Rabeeya Tasnim
In a recent workshop led by EAP ambassadors Rabeeya Tasnim and Hossain Tahseen Anayet, participants delved into the root causes of racism and discrimination. The workshop, which began with a First Nations land acknowledgment, aimed to educate attendees on the fundamental causes of these social issues and foster self-assurance.
Defining Racism and Discrimination
Racism encompasses cognitive, affective, and behavioral processes that involve negative attitudes, emotions, and actions towards individuals based on their race or ethnicity. This often includes a set of influential biases. Discrimination refers to the unjust treatment of individuals based on their membership in a particular group, driven by prejudiced attitudes and stereotypes.
Historical Context: South Asians, hailing from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, have faced intertwined forces of racism, colonialism, and Islamophobia. The brutal history of colonialism has led to migration trends that affect South Asian populations globally. British colonial practices enforced economic dependence and cultural inferiority on South Asians, a legacy that persists today. Islamophobia further persecutes South Asian Muslims, branding them as dangerous and at odds with national values. The "model minority" concept obscures the discrimination and hardships South Asians face, while their cultural contributions are often disregarded.
Psychological Factors:
Implicit Prejudice: Unconscious and automatic negative attitudes or stereotypes can influence actions and decisions. For example, a study by Bertrand and Mullainathan (2004) found that job applicants with African American-sounding names received fewer callbacks compared to those with White-sounding names, despite identical resumes.
Ingroup vs. Outgroup Dynamics: People categorize others as belonging to either their own group (ingroup) or a different group (outgroup), leading to cognitive biases and assumptions. Xu and colleagues (2009) found that individuals are more empathetic towards ingroup members' pain compared to outgroup members' pain.
Anxiety and Cognitive Dissonance: Fear and anxiety can drive racism and discrimination. Mekawi, Heller, and Hunter (2021) found that anticipatory race-related fear heightens anxiety levels among Black Americans. Molapour et al. (2015) showed that fear responses towards outgroup members can predict discriminatory behaviors.
Economic and Political Factors
Resource Scarcity: Limited availability of essential resources can lead to competition and conflict. Krosch and Amodio (2014) found that perceived economic scarcity led to reduced resource allocations to Black individuals.
Political Exploitation (Scapegoating): Minority groups are often scapegoated for political gain, perpetuating stereotypes and encouraging inner anger projection.
Educational Approaches: Stereotypes and prejudice are reinforced in educational settings, leading to confidence issues among students. Lack of support from educators can sustain biases across generations.
Criminal Justice Approaches: Stereotypes lead to distorted portrayals of minorities in the justice system, resulting in stronger sentencing for minor crimes. Petersilia (1985) highlighted that Black and Hispanic defendants often receive heavier sentences compared to White counterparts for similar offenses.
Policy and Legislation: Discriminatory practices in housing and employment policies limit access to essential resources for racial minorities. Williams and Mohammed (2013) showed that institutional racism contributes to persistent economic disparities.
Media Representation
Stereotypical Portrayals: Media often portrays African Americans as criminals, Latinos as drug traffickers, and Black women as angry or hypersexual. These portrayals perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
News Coverage: News reports disproportionately feature Black people as suspects in criminal cases, regardless of crime statistics. Immigrants are often portrayed as a threat to social and economic stability.
Digital Media and Entertainment: White people are frequently depicted as law enforcement officers, heroes, or victims, distorting public perception. Social media can intensify racist behavior and facilitate the dissemination of discriminatory information.
Support Available
For those facing discrimination or harassment, the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) allows individuals to file complaints under the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Accessible Canada Act. The Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office (ARCDO) at the University of Toronto also offers support for concerns related to harassment and discrimination based on race, ancestry, ethnic origin, citizenship, and religion.
Group Discussion Highlights
During the workshop, participants discussed which factors were most important to address first in order to enact change. Many believed that psychological factors were the core reason behind racism and discrimination, influencing other factors. Participants also shared personal stories, highlighting how media portrayals set the baseline for societal perceptions of different ethnicities, such as making terrorism jokes towards people stereotyped as Muslim or Middle Eastern.
By understanding these root causes, we can better address and combat racism and discrimination in our communities. Together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable society.
Commentaires