Multiculturalism relates to communities containing multiple cultures. Britain has always been a multicultural society, for example in around 750BC when the Celts invaded and set up to live here, bringing over iron and new farming techniques. However ‘with multiculturalism comes prejudice’ once said by
Through out my coursework I will be investigating the question ‘Education or Legislation?’ Which will be the most effective strategy in overcoming prejudice and multiculturalism in society? This is the question I will be asking the public to determine whether enforcing more laws or educating children from a younger age about immigration, human rights and equality. My prediction is that the most popular opinion will be to educate as it could have a more effective impact.
Prejudice is a perceived opinion on someone/ something based on reason or experience.
In order to gather these options I have devised a questionnaire to hand out and analyse the results in order to come to a conclusion. Some of the questions I asked are;
‘Do you think where you’re brought up has an effect on your attitudes to a multicultural society?’
‘Do you think there are enough laws in place to reduce decimation?’
‘Do you think there is enough being done in schools to decrease discrimination amongst a younger generation?’
‘Who do you think is to blame for increase in prejudice’
‘Would you be happy with your child being taught about prejudice and living in a multicultural society?’
To complete this investigation effectively I will be looking at studies from professors, results from questionnaires, personal opinions from primary teachers, documentaries, case studies and my personal opinions, to answer my hypothesis. Formative years;
The most important years in a child’s life when they are taught right from wrong, how they want them to grow up, talk and think are the first 5 years of their lives. Primary socialisation the biggest influences in during primary socialisation are parents and close family. Children copy what they see from there parents which shapes their beliefs, values and customs.
Socialisation during the formative years can either increase or decrease prejudice in a child. Children believe what they are told by people. False, perceived and prejudice opinions of a set of people.
Research from the University of Kent state that;
‘From the age of two, children are aware and endorse stereotypes. Yet, Awareness and endorsement of their stereotypes appears slightly later at around 5 years.’
Therefor stereotypes are enforced from a young age; from the gender roles of mum and dad, such as little girls will be asked to help wash up and tidy. Little boys will be asked to help build things and wash the car. This can increase prejudice as little boys and girls get the idea that they are required to those jobs. The women have to clean and the men have to build.
This section suggests that education is more important in reducing prejudice. Children are taught by parents the value of every person, equality and human rights so they can be optimistic and positive about meeting new people and living in a multicultural society. I don’t think legislation would be as effective as your formative years because children you won’t fully understand what laws are and take much notice of them.
Schooling;
The school process that children in England are expected to go through, starting from the tender age of four, when children start their first year at school; Reception. Although the majority of children have already started pre-schools and nursery. Children then continue through primary school until the age of 11 where they are faced with their next challenge of Secondary school- Joining when they are 11 and leaving when they are 16. In England children have no choice but to continue through their education until they are 18. However there are different types of higher education they can go through such as apprenticeships, sixth form, college or University.
Legally schools have to teach P.E, R.E, Maths, English and Science for a certain amount of time each week. The times may vary depending on the on the schools and how much time they feel should be spent on teaching these subjects. A subject that could help to reduce prejudice is R.E only according to the National Curriculum “Every state funded school must offer a curriculum which is balanced and broadly-based and which promoted the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils of the school and of society, and prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities and responsibilities and experiences of later life.”
Lessons such as RE and PHSE are also set up to decrease prejudice and teach children the importance of each and every person, race, and religion.
I think to reduce prejudice in schools you need to encourage secondary school teachers to talk about stereotypes and prejudice in the classroom. Discuss racism, sexism, homophobia, and other biases.
Teachers have to teach these lessons because they are forced to by, so in a way legislation also plays a part in education. Would schools teach such subjects as PHSE and RE if schools weren’t forced to?
The school process can also increase prejudice in a child. Teachers, their required to be professional about their Job. Therefor they may bring their own perceived opinions about various ethnic groups into work.
Schools can also increase prejudice is through peer groups; Friends talking about what they’ve heard on TV from or from parents can lead to the spreading of negative stereotypes; increasing prejudice. Children always have opinions on things even if they don’t really know what they are interpreting.
Teach them about different stereotypes, where they came from, and how they impact people's views of one another; putting themselves in the other person’s shoes. Through such discussions, younger students and teenage students can gain a better understanding of the unfairness of prejudices and the dangers of stereotyping an entire group of people.
By teaching students about different races, ethnicities, religions and other groups will help students know the truth about people who are different from themselves. Lessons such as by discussing holiday celebrations or cooking ethnic food can provide an opportunity to explore the differences and similarities between groups of people. Evidence from my questionnaires show that 60% of people we asked think that not enough is being done in schools to educate children on prejudice and multicultural society.
In conclusion I believe not enough is being done in schools. Children are still unaware of the dangers of being prejudice and racist can affect other people. Children should be aware of the world they are living in, what people think and should be allowed to build their own opinions on people. But persuaded into being parcail and fair towards meeting new people. 90% said they would be happy with their child being taught about living in a multicultural society. So why aren’t there more lessons being taught? Only one lesson a week in some schools and them only teach that because they are forced to. More mandatory lessons. If parents are happy with there child learning this they should be getting involved with there child’s life and helping them get a better understanding of life. 100% of the people who we asked said education over legislation.

Section 3;
Different ethnic groups have different incomes to others in the UK. But is that really down to the employers prejudice reducing the pay because of whom they are or where they come from? Or can we really blame employers for being prejudice about how much they pay there workers? These are two of the many factors that need to be explored in more detail.
Yet there are differences in the ethnic groups living in poverty and low income households within the UK according to Guy palmer from poverty.org;
20% for White people.
30% for Indians and Black Caribbean’s.
50% for Black Africans.
60% for Pakistanis.
70% for Bangladeshis.

According to Guy palmer among those in working families, around 65% of Bangladeshis, 50% of Pakistanis and 30% of Black Africans are in low income. These rates are much higher than those for White British. Workers could suggest prejudice in the work place.
In a Panorama documentary on employment they reported that 49% of young black males aged 16-25 are unemployed. According to National Statistics this is worse than South Africa. African Caribbean’s are three times more likely to not get a job compared to white Caucasians.
On the other hand unemployment may not be down to prejudice. Could simply down to lack of skills, qualifications of the employer, found someone more suitable for the position. We can’t blame employers until we have had categorical evidence that certain employers had been not hiring people due to their sex, race, colour or religion.
There are different laws in place to attempt to reduce and illuminate prejudice in the work place. Such as when joining a company to work they will present you with a code of conduct that you are expected to follow. Putting forward a zero tolerance attitude towards any type of prejudice portrayed within the work place.
However education could also help this by teaching people that everyone is equal there wouldn’t be any prejudice towards different races etc.
Section 4;
The media is one of the biggest if not the biggest information source to people about cultures, races and religions. As we are permanently exposed to it. We can’t get away from the news; it’s in papers, TV, billboards, radio everywhere, especially in the era of social media. Therefore influence people prejudice either in a positive or negative manner.
The tabloids only report the negative aspects of certain cultures and highlight their race or religion. Stories are published that only have one half of a story or make something look worse than it is. As exaggeration puts the story and their point across further, intriguing readers.
The Daily Express headline November 15th 2012, ‘migrants take all new jobs in Britain’ this is an opinion not a fact. Migrants couldn’t have possibly taken very single new job. Some people views reflect the media, so if the media post positive headlines then people will start to have that opinion. By printing a headline like this that is false readers begin to believe that migrants are bad, that they are taking over. This is in no way true.
The media build false perceived opinions. Islamophobia this is an extreme or irrational fear of all Islamic persons. Headlines such as “Muslim plot to behead soldier in the UK” When headlines like these are published people associate the whole religion with what a handful of people are responsible for and can increase prejudice in a multicultural society.
In a Panorama documentary called ‘white fright’, the BBC visited Blackburn to find out how increased segregation and separation between Muslims Asian and whites is dividing the communities. It showed the residents attitudes towards new Muslim neighbours and they were less than welcoming; verbally and physically abusing them in the streets. However Panorama documentaries are not always 100% reliable as a source. As they try to make things look more extreme and serious so people tend to take more notice; a form of sanction journalism the documentary was also only based in one part of the town. The whole of that town doesn’t have the same attitudes. Programmes like this show the more extreme sides of discrimination, and the strong affects it has to be on the receiving end.
The BBC made a programme called “The Day the Immigrants Left” based in Cambridge shire, and focused on over 2,000 locals looking for jobs that were unsuccessful, claiming benefits and blaming immigrants for being so futile in the search. Almost 9,000 immigrants were looking for work in the town.
A few companies agreed to temporarily employ locals and removed the immigrants already working there. Over the course of the documentary the locals quit the jobs they have been given as they couldn’t cope with the work. This showed how the immigrants working there had a right to be doing what they were doing in that job. However this didn’t stop locals still blaming them for not being able t get work. A popular opinion that appears to just be an excuse to not work. In conclusion I think both education and legislation would make a positive impact on reducing prejudice in the media. Legislation to come to an agreement over what kind of stories and headlines are permitted to be printed and televised. Perhaps introducing the color blind effect, a popular method used in schools. Not focusing on a group of people because of their race or religion but just singling them out as people. Avoiding mentioning their race, color or nationality. Education could also be effective as we need to educate to not judge people before we know them. Restraining from labeling certain religions just because of the actions of select individuals. Teaching everyone as equals, nobody should be labeled with religion. Education and legislation can both be equally as effective in reducing prejudice in the media.
50% of people think the media is to blame for the increase in prejudice.

Laws;
There are a number of laws in place to reduce prejudice in society; however the problem is that hardly anybody knows of them. In my questionnaire I asked
;
This graph is made from the results of my quetionairee to the general public. This is howing how many of the people we asked were aware of any of the laws in place to reduce prejuidce and descrimination. The majority of people know none. Can we really rely on laws that nobdy knows? How effective can they laws we have in place be if they are un-heard of? How can we atick to and obey laws we don’t know?
We my have a cirtain number of laws and human rights movents in places, however even though we have these laws they still can fail. For example looking at the Stephen Lawrence case. At the age of 18 Stephen was murdered in an un prevoked racist attack whilst waiting for a bus in April 1993. This case became one of the most high profile racial killings in the UK. Although the gang were obviousky guilty no charges we made arfer arrests. To this day only two of the five men have been jailed. Numrous attacks and murders had been linked to the same gang but still no jujstice. Weapons were found on their persons, cctv footage filmed of the gang in their homes caually talking about weapon use and stabbing. The police has gathered enough evidence to send all of the men down. Although one of the memebers of the gang had friends in the poice force could this have any thing to do with why not all of the men have been arrested.
All of these men had some part in the callous murder, so why have three of them walked away scott free? This is a prime example where the laws in place have failed.
Other limitations in the law that we have seen is sentencing members of the Ku Klux Klan. Numerious memers have never been punised for their actions. This is because members of the jury and police force were white supremises themselves.
Is this what happened with the stephen lawrence case as well? White supremises forecasting the future for these killers all throgh they agree with what they did. Laws should stand no matter what. This shows that we need education and legislation together.
There are laws that exsist now to try to decrease pejudice and descrimination in the work place such as The Equality Act 2010 protects employees from the application stage of employment right through to dismissal and these safeguards provided by law may even apply after your employment has terminated, say for example if your former employer provides a poor reference or fails to provide one at all because of your race. Other laws protect from other types of discrimination such as age gender and disability.
Laws when they are placed are made to be kept to. Not twisted as a result of unprofessional work forces. Empoyesses should be impartial towards all members of society they have to work with as part of their code of conduct.
In conclusion laws can be more effective at decreasing discrimation when they are kept. If the laws are kept to they could be a really operative in the struggle to illiminate prejudice and descrimation. Could they be the primary step towards this? Can just legislation do so much on its own or will it just cause people to rebel against them, voicing their strong opinions for what they believe in. prehaps not laws against people, more laws in the workplace to keep work more professional, also aws aginst media and what is broadcasted.
Conclusion;
Weighing up the debate education or legislation and throught my work and findings I have come to my conclusion. From looking at Formative years, schooling, employment, media and laws. I have come to separate mini conclusions on each of them. This is my final analysis whether the closing step in illuminating discrimination is education or legislation.
Numerous sections suggest that education is more important in reducing prejudice. Children are taught by parents the value of every person, equality and human rights so they can be optimistic and positive about meeting new people and living in a multicultural society. Legislation could possibly be less effective as in your formative years you can’t fully understand what laws are and take much notice of them.
I believe not enough is being done in schools. Children are still oblivious of the dangers of being prejudice and racist and how they can affect other people. Children should be fully aware of the world they are living in, what people think and should be allowed to build their own opinions on people. Only one lesson a week in some schools and them only teach that because they are forced to. More mandatory lessons.
Teach them about different stereotypes, where they came from, and how they impact people's views of one another; putting themselves in the other person’s shoes. Through such discussions, younger students and teenage students can gain a better understanding of the unfairness of prejudices and the dangers of stereotyping an entire group of people.
Looking at the media and what would be better; both education and legislation would make a constructive impact on reducing prejudice in the media. Legislation to come to an agreement over what kind of stories and headlines are permitted to be printed and televised.
Not focusing on a group of people because of their race or religion but just singling them out as people. Education could also be effective as we need to educate to not judge people before we know them. Restraining from labeling certain religions just because of the actions of select individuals. Teaching everyone as equals, nobody should be labeled with religion.
Laws when they are placed are made to be kept to. Not twisted as a result of unprofessional work forces. Empoyesses should be impartial towards all members of society they have to work with as part of their code of conduct.
In conclusion laws can be more effective at decreasing discrimation when they are kept. If the laws are kept to they could be a really operative in the struggle to illiminate prejudice and descrimation. Could they be the primary step towards this? Can just legislation do so much on its own or will it just cause people to rebel against them, voicing their strong opinions for what they believe in. prehaps not laws against people, more laws in the workplace to keep work more professianl.
So what is the cruical step that we must take. The step that could perminantly stop prejudice and descrimation. Education or legislation?
On one hand legislation is more important, to remove cirtain things being said in the media. Put new laws in place to stop descrimation in the work place, also for employment. New laws in schools increasing hours of religious education. Laws do make the final decisions on things hich could deem them more important than education.
In contradictory legislation isnt always kept to as we saw from the stephen lawrence as and cases from the KKK. So can we trust them? Also even though laws are in place we arent realy aware if any of them. We are expected to follw and obey laws we don’t know.
On the other hand we could step more into the direction of education being more benfeficial for everyone. If the next generation grow up learing postiviely about other cultures believifs and traditions, surely that will reduce prejuide further being taugh about the positive aspects and joing in with customs. If we are taught to. Taught equality and equal human rights fo all regardlss of religions or racial barriors.
However there are implications such as parental influence. We saw in the panorama documentry white fright the main perpentritors physically and verbally abusing people in the streets were perdominantly younger kinds around the age of 8. These children coulnt have possible deeloped a hatred that strong on their own. They have been infuenced and taught by their parents that different people are bad. This is what we need to avoid.
To finially conclude to over come prejuidice and descrimination in sociey, I think educating children will be the best step forward. I do think legislation will be helpful too. A combination of education and legislation could really make a differance. I belive education will help because children should be allowed to build their own opinions on people and on the world. Not being fed familys opinions. With education more lessons can be introduced showing children different cultures and traditons. Role playing in putting yourself I the other persons shoes to gather and understanding of how they must feel. Different steriotypes and how they can be offensive and racist.students should learn to understand the unfairness and dangers of steriotyping a large group of people.
Different laws being enforced combined with education can really make a transformation. New laws in the work place stating jobs are to be available to potentially candidate and the final decision on who gets the job should be down to qualifications and work ability. Laws to be placed in schools increasing hours for pupils to be taught more religious education. I believe this will be the most effective and beneficial for the future, the combination of education and legislation.

Bibliography
Palmer guy, Low income families, 2002.
Professor Plous Scott, reducing prejudice in education, 2002
BBC panorama, white fright documentary, 2007
BBC panorama, the day the immigrants left, 2010
BBC panorama, Stephen Lawrence case, documentary, 2012
The daily express, “Muslim plot to behead soldier” 2012
The daily express, “immigrants take all new jobs in Britain” 2012
The equality act 2010
Victoria L. Guthrie, Assistant Professor of Higher Education and Student Personnel Leadership, Ohio University, Patricia M. King, Professor and Director, School of Leadership and Policy Studies, and Carolyn J. Palmer, Associate Professor, School of Leadership and Policy Studies, Bowling Green University, prejudice and stereotypes, 1993
Dr Stephen walker prejudice and decimation lecture 2007
The race relations act 1965
Dr Stephen wright 2008