Needless to say, those of lower status fared less well than those of higher status. Many people would claim that things are not really so different today. The legacy of prejudice is alive and well in most societies. Equality before the law offers important, but limited, protection from the effects of prejudice. In modern times, prejudice works like the old Roman praejudicium, but on a personal level.
Prejudiced people make judgements about others based on unfounded fears.
Such fears often stem from limited information and suspicion, which just don't add up to good judgment. Unfounded fears keep prejudiced people from acting responsibly as they interact with others. According to the National Council for the Social Studies, prejudice begins early in life, grows in ignorance, and will persist if not challenged. Children, it seems, are the people most vulnerable to the unfounded fears of prejudice. No one is more important than parents in defusing prejudice in children.