What is the difference between bias and racism

[Klynne]

Sorry to be so ignorant, but I really want to know the difference.

[Frieda]

if you're biased you have a preference based on irrational thoughts, not on facts. bias has to do with prejudice, but not necessarily racial prejudice.

[craig johnston]

bias n.

1. A line going diagonally across the grain of fabric: Cut the cloth on the bias.

2. A preference or an inclination, especially one that inhibits impartial judgment. An unfair act or policy stemming from prejudice.

3. A statistical sampling or testing error caused by systematically favoring some outcomes over others.

4. Sports.
A weight or irregularity in a ball that causes it to swerve, as in lawn bowling. The tendency of such a ball to swerve.

5. The fixed voltage applied to an electrode.

racism n.

1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.

2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.

for future reference - dictionary.com

[Zeismyhero]

Bias seems to come from at least one bad experience, but I believe it has potential to lead to sweeping generalizations and racism.

Racism is when you've got no experience and have a negative predetermined notion about a race of people based on what you've been taught to believe. It is usually the product of fear.

[craig johnston]

sorry, i disagree. you can be biased against something you have not experienced and many racists have encountered the objects of their prejudice.

watch 'crash'.

[Coffee]

I think racism is a subset of bias in the sense that racism Is bias influenced by racial preconceptions or assumptions. I think bias is simply a more general term for the same process as racism...unfairly preconcieved assumptions that influence decision making.

[Zeismyhero]

Originally Posted by craig johnston

sorry, i disagree. you can be biased against something you have not experienced and many racists have encountered the objects of their prejudice.

watch 'crash'.

I haven't seen 'crash' yet.

I love that you can disagree so politely, CJ! I guess I was just thinking that when you experience something more than once, you have a tendancy to feel a certain way about that thing/person and I think of that as a bias...I guess I'm wrong.

For example, if you are a 'minority' woman working in a company that is predominantly white male, and you have been passed over for promotion twice, you may assume that those in power at the company are discriminating against you. You've developed a tendancy to believe that based on what you've experienced. It's narrow minded to think that everyone in power at the company discriminiates, and it's narrow minded to think that there isn't another reason you didn't receive the promotion. But at the same time, others would probably see why you came to that conclusion.

Whereas racism would be more like, say you're raised by an ultra feminist yet predjudiced mother who tells you all the time how superior white women are to ethnic men. So, you go out into the world looking around you at all men of color thinking "Silly boys, I'm smart and you're dumb." You believe this so strongly, that you're able to support your belief by finding 'evidence' to this all around you, even when the evidence doesn't really exist.

That is what I thought the difference would be...wrong-o?