Perceived Discrimination and Personal Self Concept: A Comparative Study Among Male and Female Young Adults

Abstract

This study was conducted to compare the relationship of perceived discrimination and personal self-concept among men and women. Discrimination is unequal treatment which is based on social structures that allow one group to maintain power and privileges over others. Perceived discrimination refers to the distinct stressful life experiences of unfair treatment based on personal attributes. Self-concept is a person’s perception of himself. An individual’s experiences, in all their great diversity, constitute the data on which he bases his perceptions of himself. The construct is potentially important and useful in explaining and predicting how one acts. The sample of the study consisted of 60 participants, which included 30 males and 30 females. The sample chosen for the study was of the age group 18-25 years. The tools used for measuring the perceived discrimination was perceived discrimination scale (Williams, Yu, Jackson, and Anderson in 1997). Personal self-concept was measured by using Personal self-concept questionnaire (Goñi, Madriaga, Axpe in 2011). Statistical methods used for the analysis of data were independent sample t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. The major findings of the study were that there is no correlation between perceived discrimination and personal self-concept among men and women, and there is no significant difference in both, perceived discrimination and personal self-concept, among men and women.