Beyond Binaries: In Diverse Societies Prejudices are more complex than simply us and them

April 1, 2025

March 21st is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The day serves as a call to action for individuals, organizations, and all levels of government to actively work to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination, injustice, systemic racism and hate. In Canada we’ve witnessed changing patterns in the main targets of prejudice and hate over the past few years. The targets of negative sentiment have remained relatively stable with racial and religious minorities most likely to be the object of such feeling. The survey results (March 1 and 2, 2025) that follow examine the extent to identify which groups are most likely to be the object of negative sentiment and by whom. What is particular about this study however is that it reveals that analysis of negative sentiment which is generally framed as a binary where majorities inevitably hold prejudice or negative views on minorities offers a partial view of who holds prejudices and why. Documenting the demographic diversity of groups harboring negative sentiment is essential towards a proper comprehension of prejudice in Canada and in other diverse societies. The survey was conducted by Leger for the Association for Canadian Studies with 1539 respondents in Canada over the period March 1 and 2, 2025. A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey for comparison purposes. A probability sample of 1539 respondents would have a margin of error of ±2.5%, 19 times out of 20.