2. Overview
▪ Racism and the issue of Inequality and Power
▪ What is Race?
▪ Canada and Racism
▪ Examples of Racism in Canada
▪ Causes of Racism
▪ SociologicalTheory in Relation to Racism
▪ Solutions
3. Racism a Problem of Inequality and Power
“The belief that certain groups
of people are innately inferior
to other groups of people
based on their racial
classification. Racism serves to
justify discrimination against
groups that are perceived as
inferior.” (Holmes et al., 2013)
This definition clearly shows
that the root of racism comes
from the idea that certain races
are superior, there for creating
an imbalance of power
amongst the human race.
4. What is Race?
Race: A category of people who are believed to share distinct physical
characteristics that are deemed socially significant.
“There is no biological basis
for categorizing persons
according to race exists;
however, sociologists
recognize that such
categories create important
distinctions in how people
experience the social world
and their place in it.”
(Holmes et al., 2013)
5. Multiculturalism in Canada Today?
As Canadians we pride ourselves on
the belief that we are a multicultural
society, inclusive to the diverse
immigrants that settled here and the
first nations people who lived here
long before. “In the recently
released Social Progress Index,
Canada is ranked second amongst all
nations for its tolerance and inclusion.
But there is significant evidence that
Canada has a lot of room for
improvement.” (Gilmore, 2015)
6. Racism in Canada
Aversive Racism:A subtle , often unintentional form of prejudice exhibited by many
individuals who possess strong egalitarian values and who view themselves as non-
prejudice
Modern Racism:A subtle and complex form of racism in which individuals are not
explicitly racist, but tend to hold negative views of racial minorities and blame
minorities for their social disadvantages.
Discrimination: Differential treatment of individuals based on their group membership.
Can be individual, institutional, overt or adaptive. (Holmes et al., 2013)
These forms of racism can be subtler forms of the more obvious version of racism that
existed historically in Canada.This does not mean that they are any less impactful
7. Examples of Racism in Canada
▪ Prejudice
Hostility or negative feelings
held by someone about a
racialized person or group.
Unfortunately, people are still
treated unequally, such as by
being refused a job or
apartment, simply because of
overt bias towards them based
on race and related grounds.
(OHRC)
8. Examples of Racism in Canada
Stereotyping
▪ Canadians of minority background
may experience racial discrimination
because of stereotyping.
Stereotyping typically involves
attributing the same characteristics
to all members of a group, regardless
of individual differences. It is often
based on misconceptions, incomplete
information and/or false
generalizations. In most cases,
stereotypes assume negative
characteristics about a group. Even
those who are well meaning and not
overtly biased can nevertheless
stereotype. (OHRC)
9. Examples of Racism in Canada
▪ Racial Profiling
▪ Example: any action
undertaken for reasons of
safety, security or public
protection that relies on
stereotypes about race, colour,
ethnicity, ancestry, religion or
place of origin rather than on
reasonable suspicion, to single
out an individual for greater
scrutiny or different
treatment. Race only needs to
be a factor in the conduct
alleged to constitute profiling.
(OHRC)
10. First Nations People in Canada
Canada’s First Nations are arguably the most
prominently discriminated against race in our society.
The very existence of ‘Indian Reserves’ is the most visible
example of racial segregation of these people. (Loppie et
al, 2014)The deplorable conditions that exist on these
reserves, not limited to the condition of the housing,
access to clean drinking water and access to quality
healthcare is just the tip of the iceberg when discussing
racism towards first nations people.They are subject to
prejudice, stereotyping and racial profiling as well.
11. Causes of Racism in Canada
▪ Learned Racism
Socialization contributes to the development of prejudice.Whether
intentional or not, the environment in which people are raised
contributes to this learned behaviour. Growing up in an all-white
neighbourhood or attending an all-white church can indirectly
influence members of that society. An example of direct learned
racism would be the attitudes and beliefs that a parent shares with
their child regarding certain races, for example, prohibiting the child
from playing with children from another racial background.Another
example of direct learned racism would be the use of racial slurs,
telling racist jokes or perpetuating stereotypes. (Holmes et al., 2013)
12. Causes of Racism in Canada
▪ The Media and Portrayal of Stereotypes
The Media contributes to racism in
Canada by portraying minority people in
negative or stereotypical ways, or even
more prominently not portraying them at
all, thereby not valuing them as members
of our society. (Holmes et al.,2013) News
outlets have a history of attributing crime
to members of minority groups.This
perpetuates the idea that minority groups
are the cause of most crime, regardless of
the statistics that show this is not true.
13. Sociological Theory
▪ Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
This theory focuses on how meanings and
definitions contribute to the subordinate
position of certain racial and ethnic groups.
The use of stereotypes and labels and negative
terms associated with the word black,
perpetuate negative attitudes toward minority
group members.This can also lead to self-
fulfilling prophecies, which devastate minority
groups. Resulting in the false attitude
becoming real.The minority becomes inferior
because it was defined as inferior, thereby
preventing it from achieving levels attained by
the majority group. (Holmes et al., 2013)
14. Solutions
The solution to racism exists only in the change in human behaviour as
a whole. (Rosado, C)
Karl Mannheim declares "To live consistently, in the light of Christian
brotherly love, in a society which is not organized on the same principle
is impossible.The individual in his personal conduct is always
compelled in so far as he does not resort to breaking up the existing
social structure to fall short of his own nobler motives."
This being said there are viable solutions to lessen the occurrence of
racism in our society.
15. Solutions
▪ Education –Through the various institutions such as schools, there
should be a focus on the information and impact of racism in our
society.This attacks the source of racism, the individual. In order for
this method to be effective it is necessary that Euro-American culture
not be made the benchmark in which all other cultures are measured.
Another form of education that can lessen the occurrence of racism
would be workplace diversity training, which is designed to increase
employees awareness of cultural differences in the workplace.
(Holmes et al., 2013)
16. Solutions
▪ Political Strategies - Laws preventing discrimination such as
employment equity have undoubtedly lessened the occurrence of
discrimination in Canadian workplaces. Legislation regarding hate
crimes have also helped to prevent hate groups from projecting
negative propaganda. Further improving the socio economic status
of minorities will help to eliminate the self fulfilling prophecies that
minorities may face, replacing negative images with positive ones.
(Holmes et al., 2013)
18. References
Gilmore, S. (2015, January 22). Canada's racism problem? It's even worse than
America's. Retrieved March 28, 2016, from http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/out-of-sight-
out-of-mind-2/
Holmes, M. M., Mooney, L. A., Knox, D., & Schacht, C. (n.d.). Understanding social problems.
Loppie, S., Reading, C., & De Leuuw, S. (2014). Aboriginal Experiences with Racism and Its
Impacts. (2014). Retrieved March 30, 2016, from http://www.nccah-
ccnsa.ca/Publications/Lists/Publications/Attachments/131/2014_07_09_FS_2426_RacismPart2_Experiences
Impacts_EN_Web.pdf
OHRC Examples of racial discrimination (fact sheet). (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2016,
from http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/examples-racial-discrimination-fact-sheet
Rosado, C. (n.d.).The Undergirding Factor is POWER:Toward an Understanding of
Prejudice and Racism. Retrieved March 29, 2016, from http://www.edchange.org/multicultural
/papers/caleb/racism.html
