Snapedom

Let me emphasize that: I am *not* attempting to claim prejudice against Muggleborns is not like racism at all, or that racism is an entirely wrong term to be using. Call it "racism and…" if you like. There are fundamental similarities. I am merely saying that the analogy is *flawed in certain respects* and that thinking of and discussing this prejudice *as if it were not a flawed analogy* can be problematic. Talking casually about this prejudice as just racism can (*can,* not must) lead one to be a bit sloppy in thinking about it and following up all the implications, etc.

Therefore I simply am attempting to recognize the fact that the analogy is flawed by establishing a third category only applicable to the WW: blood prejudice. A prejudice which shares key features with real-world racism but which is not an exact parallel to it, due to a situation that has no real-world parallel.

Obviously (and this shouldn't need stating but given that people can sometimes make unwarranted assumptions about others' motives) all forms of prejudice are equally vile and ought not to be engaged in. Prejudice is prejudice and despicable. It is equally despicable no matter what you call it, also. And I'm not demanding that everyone adopt my terminology, I'm merely laying out my reasons for using the term blood prejudice myself. Do as you wish, everyone.

That said, attempting to clarify exactly what form(s) of prejudice is (are) at work in a given scenario in no way necessitates ranking them as better/worse or excusing any of them. Attempting to determine if racism, misogyny or religion-based prejudice (or any other applicable form of prejudice) was the dominant factor in the treatment of a group of Saudi-Arabian Muslim women in the US does not mean any of those attitudes is better than the others. Likewise, attempting to ascertain if racism as understood in the real world is really the best way of thinking about anti-Muggleborn prejudice does not in any way mean that racism is seen as too awful to apply. OF COURSE blood prejudice is as foul as racism. It merely is a different type of prejudice in certain respects.