The Impacts of Racism On Many Aspects of Individuals
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Racism can cause a lot of damage to both individuals and communities.
The Impacts of Racism On Many Aspects of Individuals?
Racism
noun
- prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized.
Racism can cause a lot of damage to both individuals and communities.
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What is racism?
The term ‘racism’ is often poorly understood. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as, "Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior." However, this is a simplified explanation of a complex issue.
The concepts within that definition, such as discrimination and racial superiority, are not always straightforward. Views on these concepts are often fluid, changing over time with new social contexts and new ways of thinking.
Individuals
A study of over 800 Australian secondary school students found that racism had huge mental health impacts on young people who experience it, including:
- ongoing feelings of sadness, anger, depression and being left out
- headaches, increased heart rate, sweating, trembling and muscle tension
- a constant fear of being verbally or physically attacked
- not wanting to go to school
- having little or no trust in anybody apart from family. 1
These impacts can reduce people's ability to work or study, and to achieve their future goals.
Racism also affects people's general wellbeing when they are denied equal access to jobs, services and education.
Communities
Racism creates a society where people don't trust and respect each other. There are no reasons or excuses for racism. It's just wrong. And in many cases, racism is against the law.
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What are the impacts of racism?
Its effects range from daily interpersonal interactions shaped by race to race-based opportunities for good education, housing, employment, etc. It is reflected in disparities in, but not limited to health, wealth, income, justice, and voting. It also unfairly advantages individuals belonging to socially and politically dominant racial groups.
The Impacts of Racism on economy
Its effects
The Impacts of Racism on education
Its effects
The Impacts of Racism on job opportunity
Its effects
The Impacts of Racism on future goal achievement
Its effects
The Impacts of Racism on health
Racism, type of discrimination, is a public health issue. According to the 2015 Stress in America Survey, people who say they have faced discrimination rate their stress levels higher, on average, than those who say they have not experienced discrimination. That’s true across racial and ethnic groups.
Discrimination can be damaging even if you haven’t been the target of overt acts of bias. Regardless of your personal experiences, it can be stressful just being a member of a group that is often discriminated against, such as racial minorities or individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT).
The anticipation of discrimination creates its own chronic stress. People might even avoid situations where they expect they could be treated poorly, possibly missing out on educational and job opportunities.
The Impacts of Racism on Mental Health and Emotions
Chronic stress can lead to a wide variety of physical and mental health problems. Indeed, perceived discrimination has been linked to issues including anxiety, depression, obesity, high blood pressure and substance abuse.2
The Impacts of Racism on Physical Health
Its effects
The Impacts of Racism on Mortality Rate
Its effects
The Impacts of Racism on access to healthcare
Its effects
1Foundation for Young Australians, The Impact of Racism Upon the Health and Wellbeing of Young Australians: At a Glance (2009).
2Pascoe, E. A. & Richman, L. S. (2009). Perceived discrimination and health: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin 135(4): 531-554. Doi: 10.1037/a0016059
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