Elitism is the belief where elites are held at a higher status. Elites can be classified based on their ancestry, quality, high intellect, wealth, or experience. Elites's influences and authority are greater than others. Their views are taken more seriously. Elitism also hold the belief that elites's actions and views are more constructive to society as a whole, thus, making them a well suited leader. Elitism is closely related to social class in terms of people in the upper classes are sometimes known as social elites.
Ethnocentrism is the belief where being egocentric to one's own culture plays a huge role since judgments on other's culture are determined by the values and standards of one's own culture. Ethnocentric individuals judge others that are not from the same culture. Most of the time, the difference in language, behavior, customs, and religion cause these problems. Ethnocentrism happens because people are born into a particular culture, thus, when growing up, the culture, values, and behaviors of the culture around them is absorbed. When they experience other cultures with different values and different behaviors, they will feel unaccustomed, thus, viewing their culture above others.
Classism is the belief where individuals from the upper classes are better than those from the lower classes. This practice had begun since the 18th century. It is discrimination based on the basis of social class. Classism can refer to personal prejudice as well as institutional classism. There are disagreements over whether these prejudice behaviors are against members of certain classes or prejudice over racial, ethnic, sexual, or other identity.
Racism is the belief where different races are ranked differently, whether more superior or inferior to each other. It believes in racial differences. It is prejudice and discrimination against people that are biological different or people from different ethnicity or cultural basis. Racism is where members of each race posses different characteristics, abilities, and qualities that differ from those from other races, thus, distinguishing people as either inferior or superior.
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination, is prejudice or discrimination based on a person's gender. Sexists may be stereotypical towards traditional gender roles and believe that one gender is more superior to another. Sexism is also expressed through language. Most words, such as "history", promote male superiority rather than female superiority. Sexism in language is considered a form of indirect sexism.
Adultism is prejudice or discrimination against young people. Adultists believe that they are better than young people, therefore, they are allowed to act without the young people's agreement. There are three main expressions of adultism: attitudinal adultism (internalized adultism), cultural adultism (social adultism), and structural adultism (institutional adultism). Attitudinal adultim is prejudice against young people based on personal feelings, assumptions, and beliefs. Cultural adultism is prejudice against young people based on the idea that adults are more superior so anyone who is not identified as an adult because of their age is inferior. Structural adultism is limitations or demands placed on people due to their age.
Nationalism is the belief where one's nation is more superior than others. This attachment to their nation is also related to patriotism. There are two perspectives of nationalism. The modernist perspective argues that nationalism is a recent phenomenon that requires the structural conditions of modern society in order to exist. The primordialist perspective is based on the perspective that the ancient and perceived evolutionary tendency of humans are organized into distinct groupings based on birth.
Heterosexism is the discrimination against LGBT-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. Heterosexists believe that heterosexual relationships are the only norm, thus, superior. Heterosexism believes that LGBTs are second-class citizens. Homophobia is a form of heterosexim where fear or antipathy is expressed towards homosexuals and homosexuality.
Ageism is the discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of their age. There are several forms of ageism: discrimination against old people, middle aged people, or teenagers and children. Prejudicial attitudes can happen toward older people or aging people as well as adolescents and children since they are too young. However, ageism is most connected to negative discriminatory practices against old people. Ageism is a result of stereotyping.
Disability discrimination is where qualified individuals with a disability are treated unfavorably due to their disability. There are several forms of being classified as being disabled. First, if a person has a physical or mental condition that limits their life activities, then they are disabled. A person can be considered disabled if they have a history of a disability such as cancer in remission. Another way that a person can be considered disabled is if he or she is believed to have a physical or mental impairment.
In my opinion, I believe that racism, sexism, ethnocentrism, and nationalism are the most pernicious, followed by classism, heterosexism, elitism, and discrimination based on disability, and even though ageism and adultism are the least harmful, it doesn't make them okay. I believe that ageism and adultism are the least harmful because in these two types of discrimination, people change and grow. They won't be discriminated all throughout their life. For example, in adultism, a child of 8 might be discriminated. However, 20 years from then, the child will no longer be 8, thus, he or she will no longer be discriminated. In other words, I believe that adultism and ageism are the least harmful out of these 10 types of oppression because it doesn't last for a person's entire life. Next up, I believe that heterosexism, classism, elitism, and discrimination against disabilities are more harmful than ageism and adultism but less harmful than the other four because it has a possibility of change. In heterosexism, people might change their relation status. People may start off being attracted to the opposite gender, then people of the same gender, and then finally both. If their opinions change, they won't discriminate against LGBTs. As for classism, I believe that it is possible to climb from a lower status in society to a higher society, and vice versa. If that's the case, this type of discrimination won't be forever as well. Same with elitism and discrimination against the disabled. These four types of oppression are all under the possibility of change. However, racism, sexism, ethnocentrism, and nationalism are all under the notion of least changes possible. A person's race and gender won't change ever since they are born. If a boy is born African American, he will stay African American and male all throughout his life. Nothing will ever change that, thus, people who are sexist and racist might be prejudice against him for the rest of his life. Ethnocentrism and nationalism is just as pernicious. Nationalism is the belief where one's own nation is more superior than others and ethnocentrism is the belief where one's culture is more superior than the other. These won't change as well. Meanwhile, racism, sexism, ethnocentrism, and nationalism affects more people as a whole. For example, sexism is the belief that either males are better or females are better, and humans can only be either female or male. When someone is sexist, they are discriminating against a huge population.
In my opinion, I believe that racism, sexism, ethnocentrism, and nationalism are the most pernicious and one of the harder oppression to change. These forms of oppression are tied way back in to history, thus making it harder to change. During the 1600s, when the slave trade began, racism was clearly shown in the American Colonies. Meanwhile, in Europe even before the 1600s, ethnocentrism, sexism, and nationalism were already shown. Women had lower status in society and each nation believed that their own nation was better, thus, leading to competition. Even though it'll be hard to change these discrimination actions, it's still possible. In my opinion, racism, ethnocentrism, and nationalism are all interlinked together. On the individual level of analysis, I believe that to solve this problem is to have people travel around the world and communicate with different people from different ethnicity, nations, and people with different culture. Once communication is achieved, they will understand each other, thus, lower their prejudice. When ethnocentrism, nationalism, and racism are solved in the individual level, I believe that these oppression at the domestic level will be solved as well, and so on. On the other hand, for sexism at the individual level, it begins with respect for the other gender. And to achieve respect, it also leads back to communication and interaction. Once the different genders communicate and interact with each other, they might realize each gender's strengths and weaknesses, thus, causing sexism to decrease. At the domestic level, nations can start offering equal opportunities for males and females to be part of the government and play more important roles. Once equality is achieved there, sexism at the interstate level and global level will decrease as well. These are methods in which sexism, ethnocentrism, nationalism, and racism can be changed.