3 Racial diversity
Spotlight on…
You’ll start this section by watching some videos to introduce you to key concepts and issues. There are three to watch, but they each cover a slightly different aspect of racial diversity and discrimination.
First, watch this short video explaining the difference between three commonly used terms in this context; race, ethnicity and nationality.
Download this video clip.Video player: Video 7: Race, Ethnicity, Nationality and Jellybeans
Transcript: Video 7: Race, Ethnicity, Nationality and Jellybeans
[MUSIC PLAYING]
NARRATOR
Race, ethnicity, and nationality are three terms that get thrown around a lot. And all too often, they’re used interchangeably, ignored, or just used incorrectly. But each of these words actually has a very distinct meaning. And I’m going to talk about them today using my favourite candy-- jelly beans.
Let’s start with race. Now you may have heard someone say race is a human construct, and that’s true. Race is a mode of categorisation that’s based on physical appearance. So in the case of jelly beans, race is colour.
Because race is based on appearance, to some degree, it’s ascribed, meaning that people are assigned into racial categories based on what other people see. Even if somebody could be mistaken for a certain racial category, it can still apply to them. These categories are fluid. And our ideas of racial groupings change all the time.
It’s also important to remember that a person can have parents with two different racial backgrounds. The population of the world is becoming increasingly mixed. But even a person with multiple races will still ultimately belong to a racial category themselves, whether or not it’s the same as their parents.
Race is a huge factor in daily life. But it isn’t the whole picture. The term race does not capture the complexities of ethnicity. Ethnicity refers to the ethnic group or groups that a person belongs to. It’s a part of a person’s heritage and ancestry. In the case of jelly beans, ethnicity is like the flavour.
Two people who are in the same racial group can still have very different ethnicities. For example, all of these are red. But this one is cinnamon, and this one is cherry. Two people in the same racial group can and often do have very different backgrounds. It’s important to note that there are some groups who are unable to trace their specific ethnic heritage because of things like slavery, assimilation, and genocide. Ethnicity is a huge part of identity formation and development.
But it’s still not the same as nationality. The word nationality refers to someone’s national origin, the country where they hold citizenship. For jelly beans, it’s like the bag that a bean comes from. People of the same race or ethnicity can come from all different nations, like the watermelon bean that’s in camo mix and kids mix or the lemon lime bean that’s in all three. And nationality is flexible. If a person immigrates, their nationality can change. People can have dual citizenship or sometimes no citizenship at all.
So now you know. As a quick recap, race is a mode of categorisation based on physical appearance like the colour of a jelly bean. Ethnicity is a person’s actual ethnic background based on their ancestry like the flavour of a jelly bean. And nationality is the place where a person holds citizenship, which is like the jelly bean’s bag.
Now that you know the difference, you can have a much more comprehensive conversation about identity issues. Thanks for watching. I hope you enjoyed this video because I totally enjoyed eating these jelly beans afterwards.
Video 7: Race, Ethnicity, Nationality and Jellybeans
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The second video from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, explains race discrimination and equality law.
Download this video clip.Video player: Video 8: What is race discrimination?
Transcript: Video 8: What is race discrimination?
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ROSS
Hi, I’m Ross. And in this video, I’ll be looking at race discrimination. The Equality Act 2010 protects you from being discriminated against, harassed, or victimised on the basis of a protected characteristic. There are nine protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act. Race is one of these.
Videos covering each of the other protected characteristics can be found elsewhere in this series. Race is defined very widely in the act and includes colour, nationality, ethnic origins, or national origins. Based on this definition, race can mean anything from the colour of your skin to the passport you hold.
For example, you may have Indian national origins and be living in Britain with a British passport. In this case, the Equality Act would protect you from discrimination based on your national origins, Indian, and also from discrimination based on your nationality, British. You might also be discriminated against because of more than one aspect of your race at the same time-- in this case, being Indian and British. Racial groups themselves can also be made up of two or more distinct racial groups. For example, Scottish Pakistanis, Black Britons, and Romani gypsies.
It’s also possible to be part of a racial and religious group at the same time. For example, if you’re Jewish, you’re protected from discrimination based on race and religion. Racial groups can also be defined by exclusion. This means that anyone that is not a certain colour, nationality, or with certain ethnic or national origins can be considered a racial group. For example, anyone with non-British nationality could form a single racial group and could be protected from discrimination under the Act.
So racial discrimination happens when someone is treated badly because of their colour, nationality, ethnic, or national origins. Racial discrimination can include direct and indirect discrimination, harassment, and victimisation. These different types of discrimination are explored in more detail elsewhere in this video series. Thank you for watching.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Video 8: What is race discrimination?
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The third shares the personal experiences of individuals who have experienced racial discrimination in the workplace.
Download this video clip.Video player: Video 9: Centre On Dynamics of Ethnicity: The effects of racism at work
Transcript: Video 9: Centre On Dynamics of Ethnicity: The effects of racism at work
SPEAKER 1:
The effects of racism in the workplace can make you feel very uncomfortable, very stressed. It can lead to mental health problems. And it shouldn’t be something that any member of staff has to tolerate.
SPEAKER 2:
It’s dehumanising. It makes you feel lesser.
SPEAKER 3:
Paranoid. I felt a bit targeted. I didn’t feel comfortable doing my job anymore.
SPEAKER 4:
So I was called names and told to go back to where I came from, even though I’ve been here since I was three months old. So hearing as an adult or as a young adult or in the workplace anything that would kind of bring up those feelings again is it’s really difficult. It makes me feel quite vulnerable again. And I think there’s clearly shows it’s still it’s a very open wound that I don’t know if it will ever close.
SPEAKER 5:
It makes me question my own identity. And a lot of times I ask why do I have this body. It made me alienated from my own body. And I wish that I look differently.
SPEAKER 6:
You do feel left out, and you feel as if you’re not wanted or you’re not valued in the team.
SPEAKER 7:
It definitely shakes you to the core it makes you question who you are. It makes you question your abilities. And it can be hard to cope with. The good thing is if you have people to speak to, people who have possibly experienced the same thing who can relate to what you’re going through and know that it’s not just something that’s in your mind.
Video 9: Centre On Dynamics of Ethnicity: The effects of racism at work
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You’ll explore some of the issues raised in the next section.
OpenLearn have also created an excellent film interactive that will help you to enhance your understanding of racism. Take a look at Good hair: perceptions of racism. Open the link in a new tab or window and then return to this page when you are ready.