What is Racism

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(No Transcript)
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Women Thinking Equalities

• What is Racism
• Definitions
• Ideology
• Apartheid
• Patriarchy
• Discussion - how to avoid racism / discrimination

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Discrimination Racism
Definitions Discrimination - unfair or unequal
treatment of individuals or groups, who tend to
belong to powerless group Oppression - inhuman
or degrading treatment of individuals or groups,
hardship and injustice Harassment - it takes
many forms, can occur on many different grounds
and may be directed at individuals Prejudices -
preconceived ideas or opinions about an
individual or group of people or a community
Stereotypes - exaggerated or perceived ideas
about particular social group usually based on
physical appearances, over generalised.
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Direct Racial Discrimination Arises where a
person treats another person less favourably on
racial grounds (ie. Because of colour, race,
nationality, including citizenship or ethnic or
national origin) then he or she treats or would
treat someone else the same. Indirect Racial
Discrimination occurs when a condition or
requirement is applied to all but has a
disproportionately adverse effect on member of a
particular racial group. (Any disadvantaged
ethnic minority, gypsy travellers, asylum
seekers, migrants) Victimisation picking on
someone on purpose time and time again either due
to his race or colour, sexual orientation,
disability, or age.
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Positive Action providing support to a
disadvantaged group not as a preferential
treatment but helping the individual or groups to
reach the competing line so that they obtain
equal opportunities. Positive Discrimination
It is widely used in America but it is unlawful
in Britain, special treatment for those in an
disadvantaged position e.g. quota system, in
employment, housing, setting up an ethnic
minority seat in the parliament etc.
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Islamophobia was defined as dread, hatred and
hostility towards Islam and Muslims perpetuated
by a series of closed views that apply and
attribute negative and derogatory stereotypes and
beliefs to Muslims. Especially since 9/11 , 7/7
and Glasgow airport. Islamophobic
Discrimination- in employment and delivery of
goods and services. The EU pushed Britain to
introduce Religion, faith, belief legislation,
in April 2007 it became a legislation that it was
unlawful to discriminate anyone on the ground of
religion and faith.
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Institutional Discrimination normal procedures
and practices that work against the interests of
certain racial groups even though there might
have never been any conscious decision to
discriminate. e.g. The term Institutional
Discrimination (racism) was defined in March 1990
with the publication of the inquiry into the
murder of Stephen Lawrence by Sir William
McPherson which highlighted that the Metropolitan
Police was institutionally racist. It is a
collective failure of an organisation to provide
appropriate and professional service to people.
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Anti-Semitism hatred towards the Jewish people,
Holocaust , Nazis Patriarchy womens oppression
not just by male but of class, society and
economical differences and men benefit from
womens oppression due to the fundamental
biological differences between the sexes. This
can be defined as male domination.
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Four types of racism
Historical Racism and Ideology based on lineage
and common decent it identifies a population
with a common origin in history, but not a
population with a fixed biological character
used to define nation states in Europe
expressed through national symbols, such as Nazi
eagle, Aryan cross believed in superiority of
some nations over others
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Scientific Racism believes we can all be
characterized by race with certain physical
traits, such as brain size, sloping forehead
there is a hierarchy of races biology
determines intelligence some races need to
civilize others providing a justification for
colonialism and anti-Semitism where we see the
ideology of hatred of certain groups and this was
scientifically applied in Germany by Hitler, e.g.
eye colour, the blue blood etc.
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Institutional racism Those activities which are
intended to protect the advantages of a dominant
group and/or maintain or widen the unequal
position of subordinate group certain
structures in society that systematically
discriminate against certain groups, such as
apartheid in South Africa
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New Racism No longer any biological notion to
indicate cultural or other inferiorities Not
necessarily an assumption of inferiority or
superiority New expressions, such as
immigrants, integration, cultural values, hide
the racist sub-text in our culture (white is
beautiful).
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Apartheid
Apartheid - means to separate, to keep apart
Racial division between the South African
communities and white superiority allowed the
white minority to rule the majority Black
Africans, Asians, and people of mixed race.
Black people were denied their basic human
rights and their political rights so that their
labour could be exploited by the white ruling
people. Peoples lives were segregated, racist
beliefs reinforced and any criticism of the law
was suppressed. Apartheid in itself was racism
made law.

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-It was a system dictated by the white regime, a
British administration agent in control of almost
everything, blacks were treated as inhumanely,
they were demonised where possible. -These
principles of Human Rights and anti-discrimination
were only implemented after the African
community demonstrated, held strikes and rioted
over such discriminations and inhumane treatment
of the black people.
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Diplomatic pressure grew from Europe and other
countries for change. In 1990 Nelson Mandela
who spent thirty years of his life in prison for
his beliefs on human rights, anti-discrimination,
everyone to be treated equal, black or white etc.
end apartheid He was later elected as the
president of the National Congress Party.

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Patriarchy
Historically the patriarchys powers are derived
from possession of wealth but we do not live in
the peasant society today and womens oppression
is different. Men always benefited from womens
oppression and advantages taken due to the
fundamental biological differences between the
sexes. This is due to the ideology that prevails
and defines the systems of male domination and
female oppression in any society. Women are
denied access to economically productive
resources (employment, managerial roles,
political status etc). Men tend to be allied with
capital to exclude women, skilled craft workers
and men had been using their union to exclude
women to this day. Although things are changing,
it is slow, even after women having the vote.
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Discussion
Does our attitudes towards different groups form
perceptions of discrimination? Why is it that
black Caribbean and African and white lesbian and
gay disabled people tend to experience more
discrimination and prejudice than those from
other groups? Is it because its still a taboo
subject amongst various community groups? How
and what can we do to eradicate and change
attitudes within personal, cultural, structural
and institutional level? -How tolerant are we in
accepting different diverse ethnic groups in
Britain or is there still hidden ideologies of
racism and discrimination in our attitudes and
behaviours?