Explain how both individual and institutional racism have an impact on service provision and the experiences of people receiving services. How can care workers and the organisations which they work for demonstrate a commitment to combating racism?
Explain how both individual and institutional racism have an impact on service provision and the experiences of people receiving services. How can care workers and the organisations which they work for demonstrate a commitment to combating racism?
Collins national dictionary defines racism as an "animosity shown to peoples of a different race" (Collins, p396)
In this essay I shall use relevant materials to explain why individual and institutional racism have an impact on people using care services and on the service provided. I will look firstly at racism as a whole and discuss what it is. Using the literature and case studies I will explore how care workers and the organisations for which they work can operate to combat racism.
Racism is prejudice and discrimination and happens when people believe there is one race or culture that is better than others. One example is when British people believe that they are superior to people from a different country.
One symptom or racism could be stereotyping, where people generalise between a group of people who look the same or are of the same age. This stereotyping is present in the Gypsies scenario (AC3, side1, part 1) where the midwife calls round and sees that the gypsy family apparently have no amenities for their child, whereas in fact they are just tidy and have put the child's things away so as not to damage them. The midwife presumed that because they were gypsies that they would live like the stereotypical gypsy family.
Thompson's personal, cultural and structural model (PCS) (unit 11, p104) suggests that there are three levels of racism. The personal level relates to one to one encounters where the level of influence from other people is very high, this is also known as individual racism. This is where a person uses racist remarks or jokes to offend another person. These attacks on a person can lead to someone getting hurt or even killed. The cultural stage where the influence is not so high is where common beliefs and the way people act label groups of people from an ethic origin. 'Prejudices about the abilities and lifestyles of black and Asian doctors were commonplace among white colleagues' (Carvel, 2001). Prejudice happens when people judge others before they meet or get to know them, and to discriminate is when a person is selected from a group because of their skin colour, religion or age etc. "Racism in general terms consists of conduct or words or practices which disadvantage or advantage people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin. In its more subtle form it is as damaging as in its overt form."(Macpherson report, 1999) The structural stage otherwise known as institutional racism, according to Thompson, involves a very low level of influence.
Racism occurs in care homes such as residential homes: "For black communities, residential care has not only been unequal and inappropriate, but inaccessible and unavailable." (Reader, p91) Institutional racism is apparent when a company or organisation fails to provide a service due to a persons colour, culture or ethnic origin. An example of this is Lorna not being placed within a family that would reflect her culture or heritage. (unit 11, p77) 'On one occasion Lorna asked to have her hair braided' yet the services were set up for a white middle class environment, the home where Lorna ...
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Racism occurs in care homes such as residential homes: "For black communities, residential care has not only been unequal and inappropriate, but inaccessible and unavailable." (Reader, p91) Institutional racism is apparent when a company or organisation fails to provide a service due to a persons colour, culture or ethnic origin. An example of this is Lorna not being placed within a family that would reflect her culture or heritage. (unit 11, p77) 'On one occasion Lorna asked to have her hair braided' yet the services were set up for a white middle class environment, the home where Lorna was residing could not fund this, but due to her culture this is seen as important to her.
Racism is about stereotyping, it is about ignorance and failing to recognise a racist act. It is about not listening or understanding the nature of racism. When a company discriminates it can be recognised by workers in a number of ways, such as being offered only low grade jobs, missed opportunities for promotion and little support from employers about harassment. 'Doctors from black and minority ethnic groups were less likely to get promotion' (Carvel, 2001)
Racism can impact on people's lives in many different ways. Harm can be done mentally or psychologically. The victim of the racism can be affected very badly. Even if the racism is only psychological and not physical it can affect a persons' health. The victim can suffer from depression that could then lead to medication needing to be taken. Staying with the health issue, attacks upon the victim are also very much unjustified. Physical attacks most probably will leave the victim of the attack in hospital or in need of immediate medical attention. Playing truant at school can be another way of for children to deal with racial attacks, perhaps the person being attacked would try to avoid certain situations.
When discrimination is persistent and widespread in the way in which it affects a particular group of people, more general and social exclusion can result. Persistent and widespread discrimination happens when power relationships are built up over a long period of time or beliefs are based upon prejudice, enter the "culture" of the groups who discriminate and who are discriminated against. Sometimes it helps the oppressor to feel good: may be the tormentor dislikes him/herself and therefore feels the need to attack other people in order to feel better.
Racism can have an impact on service providers. Services such as Police, NHS organisations and local councils can be seen as being racist if for example an Asian couple are refused a service and the company or service look favourable towards British people.
Narinder Kaur writes "I was immediately put into the bottom set at school"(channel4.com) she had to prove to her tutors that allthough her skin was a different colour she was still intellectual and was as intelligent as the other children. This is an example of institutional racism. The teachers presumed that Narinder was not as bright as the other children in her class due to her ethnic origin.
To combat racism in the care environment a person needs to increase awareness about racism and its consequences, this however is only possible at management level. For care workers at a lower level, for instance care assistants, a way to combat racism is to not get involved with any racial attacks. This can be hard due to peer pressure but if all workers have the initial awareness then it should not happen at all. At cultural and institutional levels the most effective ways of combating include legislation, regulation and inspection. Campaigns that help to raise public awareness and understanding can be beneficial too.
Language can be a hurdle when looking at care facilities. If people residing in Britain do not speak English, they could find it difficult to find a care home where they would feel comfortable. It is important for care workers and the residents to be able to communicate effectively "It was found to be essential that workers and residents were able to relate orally" (Reader, p97) Asian or black-Caribbean families have different ways of caring for their families. In Britain, if a family require respite care for disabled child in their family it is usually granted. However because Asian people have extended families and usually care for disabled or elderly relatives at home it is seen that they do not need such services. "Many social workers assume that Asian families do not require respite care services" (Reader, p184) and this is mainly due to the existence of the extended family.
The Moyenda Project which is based in London is a service for African-Caribbean families, which help parents and families cope with the consequences of racism. Some organisations paint a picture of black families as dysfunctional. Lynthia Grant suggests that 'not all black teenagers will end up in prison' (AC3, side 1, part 2) The Moyenda project challenges this and helps black parents to build a child's self esteem.
Companies and services need to evolve and understand the different cultures and beliefs of different people. They need to evolve as organisations in order to meet the diverse needs of communities thus ensuring equality within the company. Mike O'Brien agrees that tackling inequality in an organisation requires an acceptance that there is a problem to be addressed in the first place (Institutional racism and the police, p28)
The equalities framework for the NHS, The Vital Connection, is a framework that introduced monitoring arrangements, it set national targets for the NHS on disability, tackling harassment, achieving a representative workforce and board training on equality and diversity. This is so the staff, what ever their gender, culture or disabilitiy get the equal opportunity for promotion.
In this paper I have looked at racism as a whole and the different types of racism and have explained how racism affects people in different ways. I have identified that communication is an important factor when dealing with any organisation and I have also identified that there is racism continuing within business. The Thompson model is a good source of information and it shows a fine analysis of anti-discriminatory practice. The Moyenda project which I have spoken about is a very good way for combating racism although it only deals with the victim. I feel that racism will continue to happen in human society, unless the root cause is tackled.
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