Lecture 14: Institutional/Structural Racism

Question 1

When one says “We should discuss different levels of racism,” how is level defined?

Answer 1

“Level” – Not in terms of intensity, but what parts of society it includes

Question 2

lowest level of racism is?

Answer 2

Individual racism

Question 3

What do Institutional and Structural racism refer to?

Answer 3

racism present in the society itself; racism as a system of power in a society

Question 4

Are instututional and structrual racism often taken as synonyms?

Answer 4

YES

Question 5

Define systemic racism

Answer 5

Sometimes both institutional and structural; sometimes synonym for structura

Question 6

True or False?

Instututional and structrual racism are the highest level because they affect society itself.

Answer 6

TRUE

Question 7

Define Structrual racism

Answer 7

A system in which the society perpetuates racial inequalities through its institutions, policies, practices, cultural ideas.

Question 8

What does strcutural racism refer to?

Answer 8

inequalities that operate on society-wide level.

Question 9

What are the inequalities that operate on society-wide levels rooted in? Are they still apart of society?

Answer 9

in historical circumstances (how racism came to be)

and are still part of society.

Question 10

Is structural racism, racism as a system of power?

Answer 10

YES

Question 11

What does structural racism give people?

Answer 11

It gives privileges to certain groups and disadvantages to other groups

Question 12

What is institutional racism?

Answer 12

Racism that operates on the institutional level

Question 13

Examples of instutional levels?

Answer 13

Political institutions, legal institutions, schools, police force, media, religious institutions…

Question 14

Examples of Instututional racism:

Answer 14

Police brutality and profiling

Different treatment (and punishment) of students of colour

Higher punishment for the same crime

Education curricula that focuses on white as default

“Fit” in hiring practices

Racism in sports

Healthcare

Question 15

True or False?

institutional/structural racism ar enot just about the individual.

Answer 15

TRUE

Question 16

What is affermative action in racism?

Answer 16

Attempt to counter institutional racism through measures made to help members of disadvantaged groups

Question 17

What is affermative action criticized as unfair for?

Answer 17

It goes against the ideals of equality and individual merit – seen as unfair advantage