Racism As Social Phenomenon - Essay Example

Racism As Social Phenomenon Question 1 What Is Racism? Racism can be described as the unfairness from one group towards another group which is different from their race and their power to enforce it. Likewise, two or more different groups may share certain characteristics like color but are divided based on such factors like culture, language, religion, nationality or all of the above mentioned (Memmi, 2000). A good example is that during the first and second world wars, the British and the Germans were racists against each other based on nationality. Citizens of either country if caught in a country which was not theirs, experienced different acts of discrimination from the host country as the citizens there were biased on them based on the nationality because of the war. Likewise, Muslims are always biased against Christians and occasions of Islamic groups killing Christians based on religious difference have been reported in several parts of the continent. In addition, for racism to take place certain elements has to be involved and they include actions which are considered to be arbitrary and harmful towards one or a group (Fluehr-Lobban, 2005). A good example is Muslims killing or causing bodily harm on Christian faithfuls. Secondly, there is a belief that one race is superior to the other. A good example of this was that both the Germans and Britons thought that they were superior more than the other. Thirdly, the belief in separation which can be easily identified and a good example of this is that Muslims and Christians use two different religious books the Quran and the bible respectively and lastly the possession of power by the superior race and a good example of this is that Africans were discriminated as they were living in lands which were not theirs or lands belonging to the white men. However, prejudice based on attitude cannot be considered to be racism unless an action is taken to support the prejudice held by a group towards the other it is not considered racism. This action may be harmful to either of the groups depending on the amount of power wielded by either of the group. In the end, the group which always has the most powers is always the one which wins on racism hence becoming the perpetrators of racism. A good example is that when a Christian applies to rent an apartment owned by a Muslim, and the Muslim hates all Christians generally but treats his Christian tenant with dignity and respect then the act is considered to be prejudice. However, the Muslim who is the apartment owner decides to treat his Christian tenant based on his hate towards Christians, and then the act is considered to be racism (Bonilla Silva, 2001). What Form Can Racism Take? Racism as known can take different forms. The first form that racism can take involves racial purity. This means racism can happen when a group has plans of keeping their cultural identity or status quo in the society. In most cases, groups always concerned with proposing racial purity always share the idea that their race is the best as compared to other remaining races. Moreover, they may also share the idea that their race is responsible for all major advancements which were brought about by civilization hence they should be contaminated by others. A good example of such groups were the colonizers who colonized Africa as they believed that their race was far much better as compared to the African race since they were more civilized that the Africans. The end results was that they alienated Africans from sharing basic and secondary things as they deemed that the resources they used would be contaminated when Africans were allowed to use them (Isaac, 2006). South Africa is a good example where this happened. The second form that racism can take is based on control of different resources. This may involve either of the groups claiming that they have more right of the resources over each other hence should posses the ability to use or exploit them as compared to the other group. A good example is that some group which have been known to advocate for this claims that races which are not white can not accurately and effectively use resources and power effectively hence they should not be entrusted with such things. A good example is that during the colonial era, whites were racist against Africans as they used the resources which were in African countries without considering the inhabitants of the different countries which they colonized. Likewise, they would take freely raw materials from different Africans countries as they deemed that Africans could were inferior to them hence could not use the resources effectively. Thirdly, racism can take the form of self protection. This may involve a perception among a group that the other group may be dangerous if not controlled. One such example was that Africans who were shipped to North America experienced different forms of racism coming from the whites as they were afraid that when they allowed the Africans to attain their status, someday, the Africans would change role and become their masters. Fourthly, racism can also take the form of human psychological needs. This may mean a group becomes racist towards the other in order to display them as evil hence make them carry all their blames and fears. Likewise, a group may also decide to become racist to find someone to look down on in that in different situations which affect them negatively, they receive hope by thinking that there are other groups which are far much worse than them. Lastly, racism can take the form of power as different racist may use it a tool to win or create power for them. A good example is that the situation of masters and slaves, the masters were racist towards their slaves as they wanted to have that element of power hence did not tolerate them as they viewed that could mean to the slaves that they lacked power. Moreover, through such acts like being racist, the slaves felt that their masters had power over them as they at their mercy (Bonilla-Silva, 2013). Who Can Experience Racism? Racism does not consider the type or situation of an individual. Therefore, anybody can experience racism from a group which shares different perception from him. On culture, there are different cultures across the globe. These cultures are always different in that the practices of each culture are always different from the rest of the remaining cultures. Therefore, irrespective of your status in your group, when one goes to a different a group, he or she may experience racism based on such issues like difference on customs and practices of one group or the other. On the issue of religion, anyone from any religion can experience racism (Haltinner, 2014). A Christian irrespective of his status or level of knowledge on religious affairs may experience racism from Muslims based on religious differences existing between the two groups and vice versa. Likewise, on the issue of resources anyone can also experience racism. An African living in a white man’s land may experience different forms of racism like not being employed by white men because of the perception that he or she may not be able to effectively utilize the resources or manage the helm of power in the position he is applying for as his race is considered to be inferior from the other. Likewise, white man may not be able to own properties in various African countries because Africans share the perception that the white man’s intention in owning properties within their country is to return their status to slaves as they had done before. In power, anyone can also experience different forms of racism irrespective of his status in the society. A good example is that in spite of Americans being considered as super powers, any citizen irrespective of class may experience racism from a different country that also views themselves as super powers in the twenty first century. In addition, on the issue of self protection, both the strong and weak may experience various instances of racism. A good example is that group which is considered strong and bullying the weak may take advantage of this when amidst his group to bully the weak. Likewise, the weak who are always being bullied by the strong may direct acts of racism towards the strong when in his group as they will feel the need to protect themselves from their oppressors. Therefore, racism has neither limits nor boundaries as anyone from any corner of the world may experience different acts of racism coming from a group which is not his or from a group where they have nothing in common to share (Harnetiaux, 2005). Question 2 According to the Mandela Model, cultural competence refers to the ability of different individuals to observe and respect the differences existing between different cultures by continuously being aware of the different changes happening within the culture in an organization or the society and being able to identify the changes responsible for differences happening within a culture thus making accurate solutions and decisions to meet the different needs of those involved (Dayer-Berenson, 2011). The Mandela model has played an essential role in helping me understand my own culture as a student. This is because I have been able to able to create time to understand the different context I have been faced with like such things like understanding my roles within various business I have worked in. Moreover, I have also been able to create time to address various key issues which affects my life and reflected on them to find a lasting solution for every one of them (Mandela, 2008). Secondly, I have been able to understand the different needs in my life like in education and work center. Thus, I have been able to work harder to improve on the needs through such things like improving my communication and relationship building skills hence I have managed to be all rounded in the different sectors of my life. This has increased my value as student and part time employees in the agency I work for today. Thirdly, I have been able to identify on various differences which exists in a context hence enabling me to take appropriate actions or make effective solution in the different situations which I have faced. Moreover, in my working agency, I have been able to build on a good work relationship with my employers as I have been able to make differences existing my practice and life as student. Fourthly, I have been able to display my educational experiences in both my education and work as I have been able to understand my role and purposes in education. Fifthly, I have been able to gather lots of life experiences pertaining to my work and life as a student. I have learnt on such things like the importance of hard work, neglect, racism amongst other issues affecting us in the society today. Therefore, I have been able to keenly draw on my decisions resulting to living a well served life. Lastly, I have been able to understand the element and context of age. This has been beneficial to me as I have been able to understand my relationship with others while also maintained different kind of relationships with people of different age (Mandela, 2011). My culture has positively impacted on my experiences and opportunities to date. I have been able to achieve high scores in different courses I have undertaken at different stages in my education life. This is because I was always keen to tell the difference between my limits and potential at different stages hence in areas where I felt that I could do more, I increased my level of commitment and achieved all that was there for me to achieve (Christensen, Allworth, & Dillon, 2012). Moreover, the life experiences which I have acquired because of my culture has enabled me to land my elf in different employment opportunities as I was able to define my role and what was expected from me by the organizations in question hence enabling me to develop a strong working relationship with my bosses and fellow workers . Likewise, I have acquired a lot of experience which have come in handy at different situations because I have known how to react hence neutralizing various acts of aggression or violence which I have faced from others. In addition, I have been able to lean to interact with different individuals appropriately through intelligent conversations thus whenever I have wanted something from someone, I have been able to obtain it as I have known on the procedure to take and how to address myself effectively. Lastly, my culture has also played a large role in enabling me to determine different needs in my life and I have taken different actions and strategies to work on the needs, thus I have greatly increased on my awareness and won several opportunities which I could not have won if it were not for my understanding of my culture (Jiménez, 2001). In my own opinion, a migrant service user is disadvantaged when the practitioner whom they are working with is not culturally competent because it may lead to such problems as language barriers between the two. Lack of understanding in communication always tarnishes the quality of results obtained because instructions are not carried out as they were expected to be. A good example is that migrant service user from American to China may face language problem with his practitioner in china hence they may not communicate or accomplish their task effectively while working together. Likewise, the issue of misinformation may arise while the two are working together as migrant service user may not be properly directed with the practitioner leading to severe consequences for both parties involved especially on the quality of services provided by the practitioner to the migrant user (Dalrymple & Burke, 2006). A migrant service user is advantaged by a culturally competent practitioner as the practitioner will be able to work towards delivering a quality healthcare service to the migrant service user. This is because their level of interactions will be promoted hence they will be able to engage in effective interactions with the migrant service user depending heavily on the practitioners knowledge, attitudes, skills and behaviors. Moreover, the practitioner will be able to see the migrant service user as a unique person hence will able to maintain a unconditional positive regards with the migrant service user while also working to build on the rapport between the two. Likewise, the practitioner will be able to effectively apply his bio-psychosocial models to determine the different beliefs of the migrant service user hence taking into consideration not to offend him or her and determine on the value and meaning of illness suffered by a migrant service user. This will enable the delivery of quick healthcare services to him thus preventing the migrant service user conditions from deteriorating while such related information is being searched for in electronic record or being requested from his previous center (Dalrymple & Burke, 2006). Most practitioners who want to work in a culturally competent manner have faced several challenges hindering them from achieving this. The first challenges they experience is that working with indigenous children, families and communities has become very difficult for them. This because various social problems faced by these groups or communities have been entrenched amongst them hence practitioners are always advised to proceed with caution while dealing with them. The social problems these groups experience have greatly affected on their strength and resilience tendencies which have encompassed such sectors like historical factors, marginalization and racism. Therefore, a practitioner cannot adequately address all these issues when treating the groups leading to them suffering from the same ailments again after receiving treatment. Moreover, practitioners are also faced with such issue like of appropriate infrastructure to deliver services to these groups. Therefore, they always suffer from such issues like burnouts as the workloads of delivering services or working in a culturally competent manner is inhibited by the challenges faced in the logistics of service delivery to these areas. Likewise, the locations where these groups are based are always considered as difficult social environments as the level of trust provided to practitioners from these groups is always low and as result the quality of services delivered to these groups is always negatively affected (Rothman, 2008). Moreover, practitioners are always faced with challenges of adequate resources to deliver quality services to some of migrant users of patients due to poverty of lack of allocation of resources from the government. A good example is that practitioner posted to new region may wish to understand the culture of the inhabitants of the region hence may require training to learn and understand the culture. However, lack of resources like the money used in paying for such services may be an issue to a practitioner hence affecting how he relates or delvers’ services to the group (BERKMAN, 2006). Question 3 My legal identity as refuge, asylum seeker, child and adult has greatly contributed towards the experiences I have had while living in the U.K. being a child I was abused by uncle because I did not voice and strength to speak out for myself and prevent those in my uncles house from sexually abusing me and using me a slave within the house. I guess I was too innocent and stupid to know the consequences the sexual abuse would have on me. The flashbacks and persistent night mares I suffered from was a result of the sexual abuse I received while at my uncle’s place. Even after moving out of his house, I still lived in fear as I feared the possibility of passing the dehumanizing experiences I went through while at my uncles’ place. Moreover, being a refugee living in the U.K, I was always not settled as I was always afraid that the border patrol agency would one day catch up with me and deport me back to my country in Iran which I had fled for various reasons .The thought of being taken back to my country scared me to death as I thought of what awaited me when back there. I knew my parents were persecuted there by the Iranian forces and this further added to my worry and lack of sleep because I knew that if I was to be deported back to the my country, I would have nowhere to go since majority of my relatives living over there had also escaped the region for various reasons hence disappearing into other locations without a trace. Likewise, when applied to in to be considered as an asylum seeker in the U.K throughout the period in which I waited for their reply regarding my case, I was very restless. I could not effectively accomplish various tasks which required my attention as majority of the times, I was thinking on whether the outcomes were going to be either positive or negative. My reason of not being settled further led to me losing a lot of weight, as I was thinking too much and not eating any food. However, my studies within the country went on well because I knew my plight therefore ,knew that the only way I was going to my past behind me and become successful in the new country when my asylum seeker proposal was accepted was to succeed in my education and land myself a good job within the country. Therefore, I made a lot of efforts in my studies as I apart from the being granted the permission to stay within the country, I had a little to worry about thus shifting all my efforts when I was not worried about my asylum application to my studies. Moreover, as I grew older or when I turned eighteen years old, the local authorities decided on reducing the amount of help they had granted me as they considered that I was now an adult and raised such solutions like traveling back to my country. The social worker with whom I had bonded with was also reassigned from me and taken to a different location. This made it very difficult for me to address the numerous challenges I experienced or encountered as the new social worker assigned to me had an attitude therefore it was difficult to open to him as I did not know what his reactions was going to be. Considering my experiences while in the U.K, I have really reflected on the whole essence of my being and came to the conclusion that life is unfair to those who deserve it than to those who do not. Moreover, I do believe that the experience while trying to seek an asylum to stay in the country has been negatively affected by the relationship between my home country, Iran and the U.K. Over the recent years, diplomatic relationship between the two countries has greatly deteriorated due to various policies taken either of the sides. Iran which is my own country downgraded their relationship with Britain as a result of the sanctions which had been placed on them by the U.K. In retaliation, the U.K embassy which was located in Iran was attacked by a group of citizens. The staff working at the embassy was sent packing and the properties in the building were destroyed. Likewise after the attack, U.K also closed the Iranian embassy in the country leading to a political undertone between the two countries. I believe this was the reason why my application as asylum seeker was denied by border patrol agency in U.K as they did not want anything tying them again to Iranians after the incidence. I also do believe that had the relationship between my country and U.K been good, I would have been granted an asylum immediately as my intentions and purposes in moving to the U.K were genuine since I was escaping from being persecuted like my parents were persecuted by the Iranian forces. The U.K was therefore racist on me as I was coming from Iran a country which had detested their sanction policies and sent their citizens working within their embassy packing back to U.K (Ehteshami & Zweiri, 2011). Moreover, the approach which Iran took against U.K was also not called for because they cut all their diplomatic ties with the country further aggravating the tense situation between the two countries. This was pushed by some policy makers in Iran who were against the ties between Iran and London. In my opinion, this approach is wrong and its damaging effects have been proven in practice: in today's world many countries are working against the interests of other countries, but cutting ties with a country is not the right solution. Tehran’s cutting ties with London might be an understandable reaction, but not a fundamental and strategic solution. Those advocating cutting ties, threatening the embassy, or performing violent acts against Great Britain, in practice help the extremist and anti-Iran factions in the UK, which does not defend Iranian national interests in the long term. In my opinion, despite all the serious problems, challenges and conflicts between Iran and the UK, cutting the political relations between the two countries is an elimination of the question. Cutting Iran’s connection with all countries that have acted against our national interests is not reasonable and practical, and indicates a stalemate in our diplomatic tools and functionality. The current political and social response to people seeking refuge in the United Kingdom also contributed to the denial of my asylum application. This is because of the fact that the asylum system in place in the U.K is strictly being controlled therefore making it difficult for most refuges to be granted asylum in the country. Many individuals applying to live in the country always makes various claims to the office of border agency and a good number are always denied by the office citing various claims to support their decisions. I do believe that when I applied for an asylum to be allowed to stay in the country, I was not the only one as thousands of refugees living within the country had also made similar applications but highlighted different reasons why they wanted to be granted asylum. Therefore , my case was just among the cases which were critically studied by officials at the home affairs and found not to be convincing enough for them to grant me the asylum which I needed so badly(Hayes, Humphries, & Cohen, 2004). Secondly, U.K also experiences inefficiencies in the sector of Home office decision making because such institutions like the courts within the country always finds faults within the process of their decision making process making them to be critical towards those applying to be asylum seekers within the country. This was probably responsible for them denying my different applications of asylum to be allowed to live within the country. I do believe that the courts decisions of not agreeing with decision of Home office created social response among the officials concerned and who checked my applications to deny my application because they were afraid of their credibility being questioned again. In addition, from the year 2005, individuals who were living as refugees within the country were allowed to stay in the country for a time period of not more than five years therefore after the years passed, they had very little to say about their future stay within the country. This interferes with the refuges ability to obtain a job or making plans for their life in living in the U.K. I believe this largely responsible for the lack of sleep I was experiencing as I was constantly thinking on whether my future would be based on the country or on whether I was going to be deported back to Iran. Bibliography ALLISTER, M. C. (2004). Eco-man: new perspectives on masculinity and nature. Charlottesville, University of Virginia Press. BERKMAN, B. (2006). Handbook of Social Work in Health and Aging. New York, Oxford University Press. http://www.myilibrary.com?id=65552. BONILLA SILVA, E. (2001). White supremacy and racism in the post-civil rights era. Boulder [u.a.], Lynne Rienner. 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London, Jessica Kingsley Publishers. http://www.123library.org/book_details/?id=2172. Read More