Highlights
Assessment - Encyclopaedia Entry
Topic: Settler colonialism, power and politics
Racism and its effects
Racism is an unfortunate and damaging experience that impacts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from all stages of life. Racism is a set of behaviours, attitudes and practices that create an imbalance in the distribution of power across ethic-racial groups (Macedo et al., 2019). Racism can range from open attacks and insults through to deeply embedded in social structures and systems (Priest et al., 2011).
Poor Health
Racism can lead to poorer mental and physical health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. There is strong evidence to suggest that people who experience racism are at higher risk of developing mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Durey (2010) outlines the association between self-reported racism and ill health, particularly negative mental health outcomes and health-related behaviours (Durey, 2010, p89). Macedo et al. (2019) found that exposure to racism caused a 41% increased risk for total emotional and behavioural difficulties within Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people and that younger children were most effected (Macedo et al., 2019, p.1). Additionally, the anger associated with racism produces a range of biological responses including a greater release of cortisol which can be related to cardiovascular diseases (Larson et al., 2007). Racism can cause extreme stress which is directly linked to the internalisation of negativity which may lead to individual behaviours such as alcohol, smoking and drug abuse. (Zamabas et al., 2016). Racism also creates a barrier to access to healthcare and may discourage an individual from seeking good, effective healthcare. Individuals may anticipate racial discrimination and have distrust in the healthcare system which reduces the likelihood of seeking medical advice, utilising preventive health services, and perceiving the healthcare system as accessible (Bastos et al., 2018, p. 210). Additionally, the individual may have experienced racism in other government systems such as the justice or educational system, they may be reluctant to put themselves through similar experiences. This can occur through avoidance behaviours, perceiving discrimination or harassment on public transportation to access healthcare. (Bastos et al., 2018, p. 210).
Education and Wealth
Racism is a significant problem for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Academics such as Bodkin-Andrews and Carlson (2016) have argued that racism can be associated with lower educational attainment which may lead to lower socioeconomic-economic status. Moreover, it has been claimed argued that racism mayRacism can impact the engagement, aspirations and performance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students within the education system. (Bodkin-Andrews and Carlson, 2016). Individuals who experience racism in primary and secondary school may de-identify as Indigenous, experience emotional distress and internalise negative beliefs about Indigenous intelligence (Moodie et al 2019). Furthermore, Markwick et al (2019) contends that aAn individual not attaining higher education maycan be a protective act against racism due to the systematic racism within the education system. Individuals may opt out of higher education due to acts of self-protection. This may help to explain the lower secondary school completion rates among young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. (Markwick et al, 2019).
The A cross-sectional study by Markwick et al. (2019, p.4) exploring racism among Indigenous adults in Victoria) found that individuals experiencing thethat experienced highest levels of racism were living in lowa household with a total annual- income households, wereof less than $40,000, not being tertiary -educated, and were unemployed . (p. 4).Housing and eEmployment
Racism can also? limit employment and housing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. An individual may refuse to take an application, place somebody’s name lower on a list or refuse to employ somebody because they are Aboriginal andor Torres Strait Islander. Booth (2013) carried out a study into labour market discrimination against ethnic minorities in Australia and found that for an Indigenous person to get as many interviews as an Anglo applicant with an Anglo-sounding name, they would have to submit 35 percent more applications. Similarly, the same situation may happen in real estate where an individual may miss housing opportunities due to racism. A study by Andersen et al (2018) showed that many participants reported experiencing discrimination when obtaining rental properties and that it was particularly the case “for those who ‘look black’ or were most readily identifiable as Aboriginal” (p.641). Several participants reported not obtaining rentals on the basis of their Aboriginality despite employment history and good income. Racism can limit employment and housing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. nterpersonal racism is more frequently hypothesised to cause poorer health through biological pathways involving prolonged heightened stress. The anger, frustration and humiliation such behaviour provokes results in a range of biological responses including greater release of cortisol.
Wyatt and colleagues
reviewed the theoretical, experimental and population-based research on racism and physiological functioning related to cardiovascular diseases including acute and chronic heightened blood pressure, sodium excretion and neurochemical processes inhibiting immune functions.
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