Racism as a Social Problem


 


1. Introduction


            Racism evolved as a social problem because of the recognition that even if racism has biological or genetic underpinnings, it is primarily a social construct. Many definitions emerged attempting to capture and explain racism.  (1993) defined racism as the “beliefs, which, regardless of intentions involved, defend the advantages whites have because of the subordinated position of racial minorities” (p. x), which are sanctioned by cultures. This definition is limited only to the white-black racial dichotomy.  and  (1999) conceptualized racism as the highly organized scheme of group privilege based on race “that operates at every level of society and is held together by a sophisticated ideology of color/’race’ supremacy” (). This provides a more encompassing definition of racism.  (2000; 2006) further developed the concept of racism by explaining that racism permeates the organization of social institutions. These definitions of racism support the consideration of this concept as a social construct and as such, as a social problem, instead of merely constituting a biological problem. These definitions also reflect the developments of the ecological and labeling perspectives.     


2. Perspectives of Racism


            Two major perspectives emerged seeking to capture and explain racism. Ecological and labeling theories provide varying explanations, perspectives, and policy direction for racism as a social problem. Both approaches align in considering racism as emerging from social interactions and the social constructs that emerge within relationships. These perspectives of racism provide that racism is a learned social construct that evolve in its manifestations in group interactions and interrelationships. However, there are also differences. While the ecological perspective views racism as an individual behavior stimulated by individual interaction with multi-level social system (, 2002), the labeling perspective considers racism as emerging from an inter-group process of negotiation resulting to the attachment of negative labels or stereotypes based on group differences (, 2006). Both perspectives recognize that racism is a learned or influenced perspective, attitude and behavior. However, the ecological perspective provides racism as influenced by the various social system and sub-systems with direct or indirect impact on the individual (, 2002) while the labeling perspective explains racism as influenced by developing negative stereotypes based on group differences, which influence the stereotyped group and future inter-group interactions (, 2006). These differences then determine policy direction, depending on the preferred perspective, so that the ecological perspective targets policies changing individual perspective and influences to address racism while the labeling perspective focuses on policies seeking to achieve change in inter-group stereotypes.


3. Significance of Racism as a Social Problem


            Although racism evolved in manifestation, resulting to the seemingly dwindling of this social problem, it remains a significant social problem with manifestations in various sectors such education, healthcare and employment.  (2006) explains “new racism” () has changed from a perspective that is solely based on color and manifested in actions that blame the victims from being different into behaviors that still blame the victims but perpetuated in a very indirect and convenient way to justify actions. In the area of employment, the  (2007) reported that during the previous six months of 2007, it has received more than 5,000 racism complaints. Out of this number, 43 percent are related to employment such as exclusion from applying for certain jobs and promotions as well as bullying. In health care, the  (2006) issued a disparity report on national healthcare, which shows high disparity of healthcare quality among whites, blacks, Asians, Hispanics, American Indians, and Alaska Natives in varying degrees with the greatest disparity reported between whites and blacks, with blacks receiving poorer quality of healthcare less than whites for 73 percent of the healthcare measures used in the study. The persistence of racism in contemporary society indicates the need to consider this problem seriously since and its solutions because of its effect on a wide spectrum of societal life.  (2002) explains that racism is not merely race-based “dislike and distrust” () but a more complex encompassing social problem.


4. Dealing with the Social Problem of Racism


            A number of solutions, general or specific and passive or active, have emerged. However, from all these solutions it is clear that addressing the social problem of racism involves the re-education of society on the meaning of race-based similarities and differences as well as the value of difference to society.  (2002) provides two areas of re-education to achieve social change, which are multi-cultural and inter-cultural learning or anti-racist re-education. These two areas of re-education then underlie the various specific legal solutions through human rights and equality laws, and social welfare policies that recognize the common and differentiated needs of different groups and sub-groups reflected in lesser disparities in healthcare, education, employment and other related areas. Since racism is wide-ranging, solutions are also encompassing.


5. Applying Racism Perspectives to the Racism Problem


            Since the ecological and labeling perspectives view racism differently, these also suggest different solutions to racism as a social problem. In the case of the ecological perspective, the rationale for solutions is changing the form and quality of an individual’s interaction with microsystems, including family, neighbors, peers and school social groups as well as macrosystems and exosystems encompassing the socio-cultural stratification, systems of exclusion, levels of multiculturalism, and other manifestations or institutionalizations of racism in the community (, 2002). Since these influences stimulate racist behavior, dealing with racism involves government policies and advocacies that equalize socio-cultural stratifications, minimize or lessen race-based exclusion, encourage multicultural perspectives, and integrate racial tolerance and accommodation in institutional practices. With regard to the labeling perspective, solutions involve changing negative racial stereotyping by influencing the process of social negotiation to develop positive rational multicultural perspectives.


            Comparing the two perspectives show that the ecological perspective explains racism as a social problem better because it explains problem based on an individual, group and community views and processes instead of focusing only the group perspectives. In addition, the ecological perspective also covers the various manifestations of racism in society cutting across the different levels of society and social relationships. As such, the solution is also encompassing.  


6. Policy Recommendations based on the Ecological Perspective


            Based on the multilevel approach to racism of the ecological approach, policy recommendations also encompass the different levels.  (2002) provides that changing racist perspectives or influences involve self-awareness covering cultural, racial and economic background of individuals. Various social settings and institutions should promote diversity (, , & , 2003) to develop self-awareness and appreciation of similarities as well as differences. Apart from self-awareness, developing cultural competence ( and , 2002) is also important through inter-cultural learning and experiences through interactions in different social settings.  and  (2002) explain the importance of policies that strengthen socio-cultural relations at home, in schools, workplace and other venues of social relations.


7. Conclusion


            Racism remains an important social problem with wide ranging effects as explained by the ecological perspective as supported by statistics and accounts of racism in various social venues such as employment, educational system, and healthcare service delivery. However, with the intensified quest to derive comprehensive information on racism and its manifestations, more tools and strategies are available to address this problem, based on a holistic understanding of racism, its causes, effects, implications and solutions.


References



Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com


0 comments:

Post a Comment

 
Top