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ISSUES: Title
Chapter 1: Title
Chapter
1 Racism & discrimination
Racial & Ethnic Discrimination
Chapter 1: Racism & discriminat on
Racism
It’s illegal to treat people differently because of their race or culture. If it happens to you,
remember – no one has the right tomake you feel bad or abuse you for who you are.
What is racism?
Racism is when someone’s treated
differently or unfairly just because of
their race or culture. People can also
experience prejudice, when a decision
is made or opinion formed without
knowledge,
thought
or
reason,
because of their religion or nationality.
Racism takes many different forms.
These can include:
Ö
written or verbal threats or insults
Ö
damage to property, including
graffiti
Ö
personal attacks of any kind,
including violence
Ö
being treated differently or being
excluded because of your race or
culture
Ö
having people make assumptions
about you because of your race or
culture
Ö
people making racist jokes.
Racism can affect anyone. It exists in
all races and cultures. If someone is
abused or treated unfairly just because
of their race, background or culture,
this is racism – no matter where they’re
from.
You can also be affected by racism
that isn’t directed at you. For example,
if you hear someone discriminating
against someone else’s culture. Even
though you’re not from that culture,
you might still find hearing it offensive.
It’s illegal to treat people differently or
unfairly because of their race. Nobody
has the right to make you feel bad or
abuse you. If you’re experiencing racial
bullying, Childline can help.
Why are some people racist?
Someone who’s racist can feel
threatened by anyone who is from a
different race or culture.
Our views and beliefs develop as we
grow up. If you grow up within a family
where some members are racist, or have
friends who are racist, you may believe
that racism is normal and acceptable.
But prejudice of any kind is often based
on ignorance and fear of things that are
different. Don’t fear or dislike what you
don’t knowor understand. Find out more
by reading, learning about things online,
talking to people and getting lots of
different views before you make up your
mind.
Imagine being someone else and what
this would be like. Think about how you
would like to be treated.
Types of racism
Racial discrimination
Racial discrimination is when someone
has been treated unfairly because of their
race.
It can mean you won’t get the same
opportunities, respect or support as
other people because of your ethnicity. It
can alsomean people fromcertain ethnic
backgrounds are blocked from achieving
their goals in life. Discrimination is illegal.
Sometimes, racial discrimination can
happen if there are rules that only
affect one racial or religious group. For
example, if Jewish boys are not allowed
to wear a yarmulke or if a Sikh person
is not allowed to wear a turban, this is
racial discrimination. However, teachers
may ask someone not to wear religious
clothing if it’s a reasonable request – such
as if the clothes could be dangerous to
wear during PE.
Sometimes people discriminate against
other people without meaning to – this
is still wrong.
Racial stereotypes
Stereotypes are used to describe the
behaviour of a certain group of people
