Race, Ethnicity, and Racialization (PDF)

Race, Ethnicity, and Racialization Understanding the concepts 17 September 2024 Two Views on Race 1. Race as Primordial  Race as Primordial: race is treated as natural/scientific. It is real and linked to differences in physical characteristics  But also ex...

Race, Ethnicity, and Racialization Understanding the concepts 17 September 2024 Two Views on Race 1. Race as Primordial  Race as Primordial: race is treated as natural/scientific. It is real and linked to differences in physical characteristics  But also explains other differences such as social class, income, intelligence, mental health, character disposition, and other behaviours Two Views on Race 2. Race as a Social Construct  Race is socially constructed but has real consequences – Determines life chances – Access to education, health, income etc.  The first task of sociology is to understand why social differences that are seemingly defined by race continue to exist when biology has proven that there is only one human race Racialization  the social process where certain groups are identified and judged on the basis of certain racial typologies (physical, cultural, linguistic, etc.) resulting in differential treatment within society.  Those with “differences” are certified socially as minorities and inferior to the dominant group. Examples of Racialization  Use of racial names-in both official documents and everyday language  Use of scientific racism: using race to explain differences in intelligence or social class  General tolerance of stereotypes and fallacies: we are taught that race and racial differences are real  Social science research on race relations (even if it is used for ‘good’ purposes) Ethnicity  A group of individuals who see themselves as having a shared cultural affiliation because of their identification with a common language, ancestry, homeland and historical/cultural symbols.  group members who regard themselves as different and apart  From Greek meaning “others who are not ‘us’”; those who do not share the dominant faith Cornell and Hartmann 2007 A Note on the term “Visible Minority”  Members of visible minority groups “are persons, other than Indigenous persons, who are not white in race” Term implies “inferiority” – Is an unconscious comparison with “white” races— even when 4/5 of the world’s population is not white! – United Nations repeatedly requests that Canada stop using this term  “Racialized” is the term that is generally used to refer to minority groups who are marginalized Statistics Canada, 2002; UN, various years Racism  An ideology used to justify discriminatory behaviour or discriminatory social structure – Built on the history of scientific racism  Consists of a relatively complex and organized set of ideas and ideals that asserts the natural superiority of one racial group over another in terms of entitlements and privilege Components of Racism New concepts: FORMS OF RACISM Types of Racism  Individual racism  Polite racism  Democratic racism  Institutional racism  Systemic racism  The “New” Racism Fleras and Elliot, 2002, 1996; Henry, et. al, 2002; Satzewich, 2021; Björgo and Witte, 1993 Types of Racism (interpersonal) 1. Individual (Hate) Racism  is “explicit and highly personalized” (p. 64) (directed at a specific person) and highly physical or verbal  Personal attacks on others who are perceived as culturally/biologically inferior  Often consists of derogatory slurs and name calling  Examples: – Joining, as an individual racial supremacist groups – Use of racial slurs – Racially/ethnically/religiously motivated (or partially motivated) crime (e.g., graffiti, assault, terrorism, rape, destruction of property, murder) Fleras and Elliot, 2007 Individual racism (Canadian examples)  Cheryl Thomas, Liberal candidate, Victoria (resigned) referred to mosques as “brainwashing stations” – “Santa has to be white!!! You can’t have a brown guy with a beard sneaking into your house in the middle of the night! You’d be calling the bomb squad!”  Boris Johnson, former UK Prime Minister – Referred to the people of Papua New Guinea as “cannibals” and Muslim women as “letter boxes”  Jagmeet Singh, NDP Leader-what happened? – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2onmR-oBIY&t=1s Tunney & Loforo, 2018; Hatizolis, 2017; Globe & Mail, 2015; Associated Press, 2018 Types of (interpersonal) Racism 2. Polite Racism  An attempt to “disguise a dislike of others through behaviour that outwardly is non- prejudicial in appearance” (p. 65)  Sustains exploitation and exclusion  Example: “Sorry, the apartment has already been rented” Fleras and Elliot, 2007 Polite Racism Example In 2009, Microsoft altered this ad for the market in Poland arguing that racial diversity is uncommon in that country. BBC 2009 “Manufacturing” Diversity in 2018 Original photo above Photo credit courtesy of Mezzofiore and Cotovio, 2018 Altered photo on right Types of (Institutional) Racism 3. Institutional (Systematic) Racism  Involves rules and procedures that directly and deliberately prevent minority groups from full and equal involvement in society  Discriminatory practices are legally sanctioned by the state and formalized within its institutional framework  The intent is to exploit or discriminate Fleras and Elliot, 2007  Examples of Institutional Racism  Reservation & treaty system in Canada  Disenfranchisement of Japanese-Canadians until 1949  Differential admission policies for Jewish Canadians at most universities (until the early 1950s)  RCMP refusal to allow Sikh men to wear turbans with uniform (1990)  IBM “tardy workers” policy (2003) The residential school system in Canada Source: CTV News, February 14 2017; Perkel, 2017; Canadian Press 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TeW4hW1QD0 Types of (Institutional) Racism 4. Systemic Racism  It is entrenched within the structure (rules), function (norms and goals) and process of all social institutions.  It has the UNINTENDED effect of marginalizing those outside of the dominant culture—even though laws/rules are supposed to be colour-blind  The effect is not to discriminate, but the result is unequal Fleras and Elliot, 2007 Types of (Institutional) Racism 4. Systemic Racism (cont.)  It’s not society’s intention to formalize discrimination, and from the outside, laws may appear to be equal, but they have dissimilar effects on people  Examples – educational requirements for certain jobs mean that many Indigenous Peoples are not eligible for high- wage, high-status occupations because of the barriers in attending school in the first place – Criminal profiling, racial profiling (note that there is debate about the INTENTIONS behind profiling) Types of (ideological) Racism 5. The “New” Racism The belief that “human nature is such that it is natural to form a bounded community, a nation, aware of its differences from other nations. They are not better or worse. But feelings of antagonism will be aroused if outsiders are admitted”  Whereas polite racism is a conscious attempt to disparage minorities, new/democratic racism is unconscious criticism of minorities  is the most common expression of racism in Canada. (Barker, 1981 c.f. Satzewich, 1998 p. 36; Henry, 2001). Types of Racism 5. The “New” Racism (cont.)  Does not refer to biological differences or inferiority of racial groups  Rather, persons of the same culture should “prefer” to live together rather than live in multicultural societies.  Examples: rise in nationalism and xenophobia, hate groups (i.e., Soldiers of Odin, La Meute, PEIGIDA, Three percenters etc.), extreme right political groups Björgo and Witte, 1993; White 2002; Hatewatch 2007; Monpetite 2017 Example of New Racism #1 “That really breaks my heart. I can’t believe what you are telling me. Rey can’t handle it. Rey’s background is Asiatic and as Southeast Asian Minister. He’s not aware of veterans and veteran’s affairs.” Roy Bailey, MP Saskatoon on the appointment of Rey Pagtakhan as Minister of Veteran’s Affairs (Saskatoon Star Phoenix, January 16, 2002)  Example of New Racism #2 Racist remarks about Indigenous peoples are legitimated by criticizing government legislation Federal Court of Canada rules that (Dec 2006) MPs accused of publishing discriminatory remarks in their householder brochures may be investigated by the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Pamphlets distributed in In 2009, MP cleared of human Saskatoon (2002-04) rights complaint Example of new racism #3 – Hotline for ‘suspicious and barbaric behaviour’ proposed by Conservative party candidates during the 2015 election – Rationale: we are trying to protect women, trying to prevent terrorism Zunera Ishaq outside the Federal Court of Appeal; photo courtesy of Toronto Star, Oct 7 2015 New Racism #4 Zurich and other Swiss cities allowed the Swiss Peoples Party to display these 2 posters in 2009 in a campaign to ban the minarets on mosques in Switzerland. The referendum was passed by a margin of 57%. Muslims constitute less than 5% of the population of Switzerland and in total, only four of the country’s mosques have minarets UKIP party Brexit poster, Summer 2016 Images and information from various sources  New racism #5  Purchased 12 billboards in Phoenix  Plays on the debunked myth regarding Haitians in Springfield OH  Old trope of Above: AI generated image shown on multiple high profile politicians’ social media pages Photo newcomers eating courtesy of NBC News Sept 17 pets—now Below: Arizona Republican Party, September 2024 12 billboards purchased in Phoenix mainstreamed Photo credit: Washington Post, Sept 11 2024 Consequences of New/Democratic Racism  Group identities are conflated with national identities (i.e., all persons from India must share the same ethnicity, sense of peoplehood, religion) regardless of their differences  Implies that hostility towards “other” ethnic groups is “natural”  Implies that immigrants should only move to countries where they will “naturally fit in”.  Negates dual/multiple affiliations and suggests divided loyalties (Rattansi, 2007) The Outcomes of Contact 1. Genocide/Ethnocide  Deliberate and systematic mass killings of an identifiable/hated group who live in a territory occupied and controlled by the killers  Is not an isolated event by poorly disciplined militia units but an orchestrated campaign of terror involving a network of institutions and ideological assumptions that sanctions the dehumanization of other “minority” groups The Outcomes of Contact 2. Assimilation Consists of a complex and dynamic process in which minority groups begin to lose their distinctiveness through absorption into the ongoing activities and objectives of the dominant society. The Outcomes of Contact 2. Assimilation (cont.) Assimilation may include:  Forced or voluntary compliance with laws and institutions  Proceed at varying rates of change  Involve explicit or implicit policy guidelines  Consist of outward compliance rather than wholesale conversion The Outcomes of Contact 2. Assimilation (cont.) Minority group practices are tolerated when:  They are restricted to the private or personal realm  Involve only the cultural (aesthetic) realm  Conform to the majority of commercial, political or ideological interests  Do not violate basic moral principles of law The Outcomes of Contact 3. Segregation and Separation The process and practice of separating groups on the basis of race or culture. This separation can occur voluntarily or involuntarily and be formal or informal. Johannesburg, South Africa A highway separates two communities: a white/middle class area (Primrose) and South African working class area (Makause). Photo credit: Miller, 2018 The Outcomes of Contact Examples of Segregationalist Societies Forced Separation Voluntary Separation  Southern US before  Hutterites, and after the Civil Doukhobors, and War other religious  Apartheid South groups Africa  First Nations Peoples in Canada The Outcomes of Contact 4. Integration Involves a set of policy ideals that oppose the principles of segregation, assimilation and separation. As a policy, integration is concerned with incorporating minorities into the mainstream so that they can participate as equals The Outcomes of Contact 4. Integration (cont.) Integration is different from Assimilation:  Assimilation involves a one-way process of minority compliance or conformity with majority practices and beliefs  Integration allows adaptation and acceptance of the minority groups without sacrifice of their unique cultural identity The Outcomes of Contact 4. Integration (cont.)  Melting pot: metaphor used to describe the preferred ideal in American race relations. Suggests the fusion of minority practices to create a new and improved national culture  Mosaic: metaphor used to describe the ideal arrangement of ethnic groups in Canada. The image is of disparate and distinct elements arranged into a cohesive whole Individual Racism Example #1  Annual anti-racism rallies in various Canadian cities to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21) are repeatedly ‘interrupted’ by protests by groups holding racist ideologies – historically organized by the Aryan Guard and Blood and Honour  Hate groups have countered with White Pride Worldwide Day, also March 21