Understanding the problem: defining racism
Racism is a form of discrimination where a person or group of people are treated unequally because they belong (or appear to belong) to a particular ethnic group or race. Racism is based on the idea that some races are superior to others. Racism is always accompanied by power – the power to discriminate against others.
Racism can present itself in many ways. Some are more direct and obvious like harassment, humiliation, abuse or violence. Some are more indirect and subtle and are built into our systems and structures. This strategy focuses on anti-racism at the interpersonal, institutional and structural levels.
This strategy also recognises the distinct relationship between experiences of racism and discrimination and the use of antisocial behaviour and violence against First Peoples and people from multicultural and multifaith backgrounds.
Race is not a biological or genetic fact. It is an idea created to sort people into ‘racial groups’ by:
- their skin colour or other physical traits
- the language they speak
- their cultural practices
- their religion.
This idea has been driven by historical and current forms of colonialism, with violence and ideology enforcing the idea of a racial hierarchy between groups.[8]
Categorisation like this is not always imposed on people from the outside. People may choose to identify with cultural or language groups based on common characteristics (including histories of oppression). When it is imposed on others by those with power to discriminate, it is called racialisation.
Racialisation is the act of assigning racial identities to people or groups based on their physical or cultural traits or characteristics. It can maintain stereotypes and lead to discrimination. How groups are racialised in a society can change over generations as power and influence shifts. Sometimes when new ethnic or cultural groups arrive in a community, the boundaries between racial groups are redrawn. This changes who is included in the dominant racial group.
Information about different types of racism is at Appendix 1.
Racial discrimination and vilification are against the law and breach human rights
Discrimination: Under the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 2010, it is against the law to discriminate against someone based on their race (including their skin colour, ancestry, nationality or ethnic background) in areas of public life such as:
- work
- school
- when using services
- renting or buying property
- taking part in sport
- accessing public places.
Vilification: In Victoria, under the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001, vilification involves behaviour that incites hatred, serious contempt, revulsion or severe ridicule of a person or group of people because of their race or religion. It is against the law to vilify others.
[8] F Fozdar, R Wilding and M Hawkins, Race and ethnic relations, 1st edn, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, 2009
Updated