I think it is important to point out that statistics are socially constructed as well. Statistics and personal experience may tell you that young males from racial minorities are more inclined to be charged with petty theft (theft under $5000), but those statistics and experiences may be distorted as those groups are quite literally policed more often than other demographic groups. No one is watching the old, white couple. There is also the issue of whether private groups decide to go ahead and press charges. The old couple that I let go despite shoplifting were never charged despite committing a crime as I never bothered to stop them.
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Originally Posted by CroMagna  That's rational discrimination, grounded in the idea that stereotypes are on average true, based on statistics and disparities. |