Soft bigotry of low expectations

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The "soft bigotry of low expectations" is an expression describing the discriminatory practice of holding lower expectations for individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race or socioeconomic status, and its potential for harm to the people in question. It is most commonly used in discussions of education, public policy and civil rights. The phrase was popularized by George W. Bush during his 1999 presidential campaign and is generally credited to his chief speechwriter, Michael Gerson. The phrase refers to the belief that lowering expectations for individuals or groups because of characteristics such as race, ethnicity, poverty, disability or other forms of disadvantage constitutes a subtle form of prejudice. It argues that applying lower standards out of sympathy, paternalism, or assumptions about capability can deny individuals equal opportunity by reinforcing stereotypes and limiting achievement. The expression is most commonly applied in education, where it refers to...

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