Ethnicity inequality Flashcards
(4 cards)
How did Gillborn and Youdell find teacher expectations reinforced ethnic inequality in schools?
They observed two inner-city London schools and found that teachers held racialised expectations: black pupils were seen as more likely to be disruptive and less academically able. As a result, teachers prioritised discipline over learning when dealing with black students.
This reinforces ethnic inequality as these negative stereotypes contribute to a self-fulfilling prophecy: black pupils internalise low expectations, develop lower self-esteem, and may begin to behave in ways that confirm the stereotype. This can result in underachievement, lowered life chances, and school exclusion.
How does material deprivation affect educational achievement across ethnic groups?
CPAG found that 73% of Pakistani and Bangladeshi households live at or below the poverty line due to factors like language barriers, unrecognised foreign qualifications, and racial discrimination in employment. These conditions limit children’s access to educational resources.
This reinforces inequality by showing how structural disadvantage outside the school system contributes to lower attainment among Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Afro-Caribbean students compared to groups like Indian or Chinese pupils, who often come from more affluent families and are more likely to access private education or tuition.
What did the Casey Review reveal about policing and ethnic minorities?
The review found that the Metropolitan Police disproportionately used stop and search, strip searches, and force on Black, Asian, and ethnic minority individuals. There was also underrepresentation of ethnic minorities in senior police roles.
This reinforces inequality as over-policing contributes to alienation and mistrust between ethnic minorities and law enforcement. It suggests a culture of institutional racism, where ethnic minorities are more likely to be criminalised or subject to invasive police powers without justification.
What did the Macpherson Report conclude about the police handling of Stephen Lawrence’s murder?
The report found the Met Police exhibited institutional racism—officers assumed black people at the scene were suspects, not witnesses, delayed medical assistance, and failed to properly investigate.
This reinforces inequality by showing that ethnic minorities are denied equal protection by the justice system, reducing their confidence in state institutions and highlighting how racial bias can lead to unequal access to justice and even fatal consequences.
