Power point presentation on racism Essay

Definition of Racismrac*ism n (1936) 1 a belief that slipstream is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race 2 racial preconception or inequalityWebsters Ninth New Collegiate DictionarySegregationThe separation of groups of people by custom or by law. It is often based on differences of race, religion, wealth, or culture.The first major challenges to racial segregation in Canada occurred in 1946 when Viola Desmond, a black businesswoman, refused to sit in the balcony of a New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, subject area but instead sat downstairs, an area designated exclusively for whites. Viola Desmonds action occurred nine years before Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in Montgomery, AlabamaCauses of segregationMedia examples of racismWhat is racism?The holding of derogatory favorable attitudes or cognitive beliefs towards members of a particular group on the account of their membership to that groupWhat is racism?The ICERD (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of racial Discrimination) defines racism as followsAny distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or aftermath of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise, on equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, or any other field of public life.Social bunk of prejudice & racismPrejudice and racism may be a necessary means of creating scapegoats for individual or groups that feel threatenedIt may be collect to socialization (e.g. authoritarian personality)It may be the animal instinct of territoriality and feral restraint.It may be mere bigotry and ignoranceIt may be egotism and determined ethnocentrismElements of racisman underlying belief in the superiority of one race over another and its right to dominate.generalizing one group of people by accept in simplistic stereotypes of that group.affects every aspect of the lives of communities of colour social, economic, political, health, etc.Elements of racismPrejudice A preconceived, unreasonable judgement or opinion of people or situations.Where prejudice is negative it often results in harmful or unfavourable consequences for the victimPrejudice may have social & biological basisStereotypes and their functionStereotypes are relatively fixed sets of oversimplified beliefs about people or eventsStereotypes are often over generalisations about people and their assumed defining characteristicsSocial cognitive theories of prejudice & stereotypingPrejudice and discrimination may stem from the misuse of1)cognitive heuristics2)categorisation and stereotyping of in-groups and out-groups3)information processing and the inability to deal with complex data (need for shortcuts)Racism typesIndividual racism refers to the ha rmful beliefs and discriminatory behavior of individuals.Institutional racism refers to the policies that restrict the opportunities of minorities.