Bigotry and Intolerance: The Ultimate Teen Guide (Volume 35) (It Happened to Me, 35) - Hardcover

Gay, Kathlyn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0810883600 ISBN 13: 9780810883604

Publisher: Scarecrow Press, 2013

Synopsis

While many people appreciate cultural, social, political, and religious diversity, there are others who feel compelled to express their intolerance for others through cruel words and actions. Their behavior often stems from ignorance and insecurity, and they demonstrate their prejudices by belittling others who are different from them. These narrow-minded individuals attack others based on any number of reasons, including religious beliefs, sexual orientation, cultural background, social standing, or physical appearance.

In Bigotry and Intolerance: The Ultimate Teen Guide, Kathlyn Gay looks at the various reasons why people of all age levels and backgrounds feel the need to disparage others. This book also offers help to teens who are the object of fear and hatred by showing them how to combat such behavior.

Topics covered in this book include:

• the meaning of bigotry and intolerance
• types of bigotry—from religious bigotry to homophobia
• the difference between bigotry and racism
• what it feels like to be the target of bigotry
• how to cope with discrimination
• individuals and groups that advocate tolerance and appreciation of cultural diversity

Aimed at young adults who are interested in fighting bigotry and intolerance, this book will help teens who suffer from the small-mindedness of others. It might also help those who are less tolerant find some common ground with those who are different from them—and lead to a better understanding of how diversity makes for a richer, more interesting world. Featuring commentary from several young adults, Bigotry and Intolerance: The Ultimate Teen Guide will be welcomed by those who want to turn the tide of prejudice and fear in their schools and in their communities.

About this title

About the Author:

Kathlyn Gay has written more than 120 books and articles. She is the author of several titles in the "It Happened to Me" series for Scarecrow, including Cultural Diversity (2003), Volunteering (2004), The Military and Teens (2008), Body Image and Appearance (2009), and Living Green (2012).

Review:

'What’s a bigot?' Beginning with this question, Gay challenges readers to probe their own responses to difficult questions surrounding intolerance. Topics in this entry in the It Happened to Me series include religious bigotry, homophobia, bullying, racism, hate language, censorship, and hate groups, and it concludes with a chapter on ways students are reducing bigotry and hate crimes. By using actual cases, Gay creates a personal connection between the target of bigotry and the teen reader. Including quotes from many teens, she shows the dangerous consequences words and actions can have on others. Although Gay’s research focuses more on current situations, she supplies historical background on cases that have led to present-day problems. Chapter notes support her meticulous research on topics that teens face on a daily basis. (Booklist)

Bigotry and Intolerance: The Ultimate Teen Guide is designed with the high school age student in mind who wants a broad overview of the emotional and societal issues behind bigotry and intolerance of people with different cultural, social, political, and religious backgrounds. While the teenage years are a time of great emotional and psychological change, there are many issues that may arise for the teen dealing with intolerance. The work focuses on what it means to be discriminated against, the various types of bigotry (e.g., religious, cultural), the difference between bigotry and racism, and how to cope with discrimination. Information in this work is presented through the personal stories of teens and young adults who have lived through these experiences; most of the stories focus on teenagers who have experienced discrimination and the various emotions and steps they took to resolve them. Specific chapters address bullying, the language of bigotry and racism, censorship, and the role of hate groups. The volume includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter to help teens verbalize their questions, up-to-date statistics, and first-hand advice from professionals. Teens who are experiencing strong emotions surrounding intolerance and racism and who have questions about how to cope with intolerance in their lives will find this guide useful. The personal experiences shared in this book will appeal to this target audience and could be useful for students this age researching this topic. (American Reference Books Annual)

About this edition

• Publisher: Scarecrow Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0810883600
• ISBN 13: 9780810883604
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 182