A good example is when we talk about prejudice and discrimination. When talking about such volatile issues, it's important to use the correct language to convey the meaning we intend. Sometimes, people use the word racism to describe a prejudice or they use the word discrimination to describe a generalization. Let's look at some of the different shades of meaning in words. A generalization is a general idea or judgment of a person or group based on limited or general knowledge.
Generalizations are usually assumptions made about a group based on perceptions or inferences.
A generalization can be changed in light of new evidence or experience, and a generalization can be positive or negative. For example, a positive generalization often made about Native American people is that they are athletic. Upon meeting a Native American with two left feet, however, a person making a generalization can change his or her perception. A stereotype is a negative image, belief or assumption about a group of people despite their individual differences or, more importantly, despite evidence to the contrary. Thus, stereotypes are ideas that are difficult, if not impossible, to change.