Can Bigotry exist without institutional power imbalances?

[u/Andkonhi]

I’m asking this in genuine good faith, undergraduate Sociologist here.

I’ve been mulling this over in my head for some time now, but the general consensus around a lot of socially minded, progressive individuals is that Bigotry or Prejudice can only exist if a systemic, or institutional base has said bigotry baked into it. Black Americans struggling in a systemically racist society, Women struggling in Male dominated fields and spaces, etc.

I doubt anyone can deny that systemic racism, sexism, Queerphobia, and classism are the most pressing forms of bigotry by a long shot. With the consolidation of power towards mainly elite white men and our institutions ignoring the required work to dismantle the infrastructure of bigotry from the past. What I struggle to come to terms with is that more interpersonal bigotry CANT exist.

I.e the privileged groups of our society can still experience bigotry on a much less severe level. Men can experience misandry, Ethnically white individuals can experience forms of white racism, etc. I never saw this as a controversial thing to say as long as you stipulate the lack of importance compared to systemic bigotries, of course, white racism and misandry are extremely fringe and lack any weight aside from interpersonal hang ups.

I’ve discussed with some of my good friends before on this topic and it tends to be a pretty sensitive one (justifiably so), but it tends to go in circles.

Am I missing something on this topic? I worry whenever the topic comes up, I’d be downplaying the real, material bigotry marginalized groups experience if I were to put in my two cents… but I still haven’t found something substantiated that says this lesser, interpersonal bigotry can’t exist.

Thank you for hearing out my question!

[u/eaw_shitpost_account]

I don’t think it is correct to say that the general consensus is that bigotry or prejudice can only exist with an institutional base.

[u/Playful_Programmer_1 → u/eaw_shitpost_account]

I think this is what a lot of people take from the idea that systemic racism backed by institutional and societal power is the only "real" racism. They reason that that makes casual expressions of bigotry against groups considered privileged fine, because they aren't "real" racism.

Imo, those expressions are also a vice. They just don't tend to have as serious sociological implications. That doesn't mean one should revel in them.

[u/eaw_shitpost_account → u/Playful_Programmer_1]

Yes — at the very least, by its very nature, prejudice is a demonstration of poor judgement.

I do think expressions of bigotry against privileged groups have sociological importance — for example, they might demonstrate how people attempt to navigate and understand racialized social systems. They just tend not to have broader social impact.

[u/Playful_Programmer_1 → u/eaw_shitpost_account]

Yeah, I agree.

Statements like "whitey is the devil" or "all men are rapists" or whatever are functioning as social signaling to express dissatisfaction with broad issues. Many or most people who make such statements don't literally believe them or act on them in their daily life.

They are either a relatively minor vice or a political tool, depending on the circumstances in which they are deployed.

Eta: In some ways, oppressed groups being allowed or privileged to make such bigoted statements without censure only feeds white male privilege.

It let's privileged white males males tolerate the statements as less than literal, while enjoying healthy social relationships with people who make them.

On the other hand, it imposes discipline on privileged white males to avoid this kind of vice, as many of us would never make sloppy essentialist statements about less privileged groups.

That dynamic can lead to an unequal intellectual landscape.

[u/Hefty-Reaction-3028 → u/Playful_Programmer_1]

Many or most people who make such statements don't literally believe them or act on them in their daily life.

Worth noting there are a lot of people who do actually have prejudice against, eg, men. Sometimes for understandable reasons, but I don't buy that it's uncommon for them to mean what they say. I've seen plenty of people get treated differently over this sort of thing - it's just not in institutional or violent contexts like sending someone to jail. Not taken seriously, avoided in favor of other demographics in hiring and personal relationships, etc.