Final answer:
In 'Ender's Game', society views third children negatively due to population control laws meant to conserve resources, leading to prejudice and stigma towards 'thirds' like Ender.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the novel Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, the society has an unfavorable view of third children, or 'thirds,' due to population control laws. These laws were established to manage the Earth's limited resources following conflicts and environmental crises. Ender, the protagonist, is a third and faces prejudice and stigma because his existence defies these strict population control measures. His parents were granted a rare exception to have him because of the potential for producing exceptional children useful to the government, but this does not protect him from societal disapproval. The negative perception of being a third reflects broader themes in the novel, including the tension between societal expectations and individual value.