Racism and Various Forms
How does an understanding of racism in its various forms inform the counseling professional practice?
Racism is regarded as the negative feelings exercised by one ethnic group towards other individuals belonging form a different group. The brutality and attitude towards the group is observed in the behaviors and attitudes of individuals and members of certain group causing major issues in terms of their religious, social, color, or descent. The highest of racism can be traced back to the laws in USA for reducing the voting rights of African-Americans. It also moved their status from a normal and equal citizen to low caste. The changes in the laws and constitution eliminated these flaws however the racism based on physical and descent characteristics are still continuing in various parts of the world (Fredrickson, 2002). The claimants of multicultural societies are also following the racist traditions and tendering inferior treatment towards migrants and individuals belonging to other race, color, ethnic origin, and culture. The examples of such racial attitude in terms of ethical, personal, and professional racism are also part of the sections below.
Racism in its various forms:
The competence in counseling with respect to dealing with multiculturalism requires a great deal of expertise in broad understanding of theoretical framework, conceptual, research, and practice. The cultural competence and sociocultural issues require a detailed understanding regarding the norms and emotional awakening of the knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes related to the specific race. The racism has various forms and categories. There are growing concerns that various forms of racism have affected the populations. The personal beliefs and prejudice has carted major barriers for equal treatment of individuals. The negative experiences and discomfort with respect to racism as a subject has also played a vital role in underplaying the discussion and debate on such important topic. The growing multicultural societies and a global culture require addressing issues related with the racism. The specific requirements for a viable community-based participatory research initiative requires addressing the issues related to race, power, and privilege in benefits of a larger society (Hinkler & Wallerstein, 2010).
According to Feagin (2010) the learning about the racial frame concerns the childhood early leanings. The adults continue to learn through the social and regular interactions with others in the society. The social scientist has advocated development of relationships based on a broad network of social and physical interactions. The basic element of society cannot be regarded as an individual entity; however the relationships based on two or more individuals. It is also regarding the network of relations that can create initiate tangible relationships. It is also observed that the Australia has hosted migrants since long ago in its history. The differences in races are constructed in their early childhood and they are carried forward with the passage of time. The discriminatory behavioral development is related to the race, gender, and ethnicity. It is often observed that girls are associated with the weakness and female traits are coupled with the signs of weakness. It is also often heard that girls are too scared to indulge into a manly activity for example car theft or shop lifting (Leonard, 2004).
Ethical:
It is unethical for the members of a society to categorize any individual on the basis of their ethnic origin, culture, race, religion, and skin color. The Australian public is critical about the global wide spread anti-Muslim sentiment. The submission made by the individuals in Commonwealth inquiry into multiculturalism recorded that a large number of Australian citizens have been critical for the Muslims as threats to the society. The submissions made in the commission have symptoms of cultural racism. The example below is narration of an Australian women made in the commission. She is particular about the local area in which she resides and does not like the area anymore due to a large number of immigrants settling in Australia and particular in her area.
The statement was possessive about the local culture, values, ethics, and way of life. She stated that in case an immigrant is allowed to settle in Australia h/she should be thankful and follow the local culture, norms, and ethics rather than following their own culture and values. The remarks of the participant can be clearly remarked as racial and contrary to the multiculturalism. She also mentioned that the Muslims are a socially misfit for a free society as they are tilted towards crimes including drugs. The Middle Eastern culture of Muslims was also regarded as horrible. These remarks and state of opinion can clearly demonstrate the submission as an ethically incorrect and as a result can...
These statements can highlight the vindictive and ethically incorrect judgment passed by the individuals. It is also contrary of the claims that Australian government is making to develop a multi-cultural society. The individuals from Anglo -- Celtic background are the one's making such derogatory remarks about the African ethnic migrants as well as the Asian origin individuals. The Curry bashing case is investigated and it reveals that the Lebanese origin Australians were responsible for the imitation of the movement against Indian Curry. The settlers from other cultures and geographic locations are also face similar ethically incorrect and racial behavior from the flag holders of multiculturalism (Soutphommasane, 2013; Poynting, Noble, P. Tabar and Collins, 2004).
The individuals from various ethnic backgrounds tend to have diverse cultural and personal backgrounds. It is also essential to understand that all human beings are racist to an extent. However the practicing the active unethical behavior in our social settings is one of the major issue that should be resolved to truly create a multi-cultural society. The personal traits and qualities are also related to social, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds of an individual and some of the traits cannot be changed however it does not means that the individual is a racist or involved in racism or unethical stereotypes (Soutphommasane, 2013). The active perusal of the pre-convened notions, beliefs, and attitudes towards others is the major issue that should be handed effectively through education, cultural, and social reforms.
The principles of multiculturalism and cultural recognition are a civic aspiration and equal recognition. The equal recognition and high ethical values does not downplay the requirements of cultural and ethnic practices should be eliminated form the individual and social life. However the practice should be on the ground of personal affiliations but the other members of society should also be allowed to carry forward their beliefs and cultural values. A mutual cultural acceptance can only be gained through effective recognition of the distinctive identity and cultural group identity (Soutphommasane, 2013).
Personal:
The personal experiences described by an individual of Chinese descent are clearly an evidence of racist behavior and treatment. The individual suffered from various types of racist remarks passed on his back in his partner's Company. The Australian public inclination towards racism and having a feel of English speaking superiority is observed throughout the society including the social and professional circles. The name calling due to the ethnicity of an individual described as his experience is a painful thought as the Chinese migrant also felt dejected from the conversations and avoided within the professional settings. The personal experience of experiencing steering looks on the roads and turning around to have a look again are also damaging for the personal acceptability within a society (Ang, 2012).
The research further describes the religious unacceptability of the Australian culture towards minorities especially from the Asian descent. The author describes that the society does not condone the direct forms of racism towards personal ethnicity and religion of a migrant. In such conditions it is far starched to expect a multicultural environment and an integrated society can develop. The publically acceptable behavior of passing racist comments and looks to an individual with non-English speaking descent is considered contrary to the multiculturalism. The Anglo-Celtic Australian individuals demonstrating their acceptability towards the dialogue for enrichment of society and at the same time naming the migrant cultures different in their existing cannot go side by side. The self-claimed multicultural Australian society should draw their limitation to clarify racism and declare the tolerant and intolerant behaviors in order to have a clear understanding of the boundaries. The placement of women from Chinese descent within the images of Australian society portraits does not necessarily mean that the society is tolerant towards other cultures (Ang, 2012).
The globalized liberalism and immigration politics in Australia has more to do with the economy and growth than the personal freedom of migrants in the country. The racist behaviors faced by the majority of Asian origin migrants are a phenomenon that causes major personal backlash to their existence in the country that claims to be a multicultural migrant destination. The transitional flow of information, products, and services from various parts of the world to different countries is forming a global…
