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The process of racial discrimination: towards a unified theory
1Institute for Social Sciences of Religions (ISSR), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Scholars in the field of intergroup relations agree that discrimination is a dynamic process with causes and consequences. However, the way in which related concepts-such as stereotype, prejudice, or stigmatization-shape this process has never been integrated together in a unified theory. This paper aims to map and describe this process theoretically by showing how these concepts are interrelated. I do so by drawing on seminal works in the field and by linking together middle-range theories that have empirical support. The result is a five-part process model of discrimination that integrates the multidimensionality of discrimination and three perspectives from which discrimination can be studied. This unified theory not only serves pedagogical purposes by providing a synthesized overview of the major theories in the field but also represents a heuristic tool for empirical research on the production of disadvantages in racialized contexts.
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