Effects of racism

Racism can have a cumulative effect on children, and can also contribute to a general atmosphere of intimidation or harassment in school.

A review of research into the effects of racism on children carried out by the NSPCC in 1999 found that:

• the most common expression of racism is through racist name-calling, which is often viewed by adults as trivial although its impact on children can be profound

• although research evidence is limited, what is available does imply that racial bullying frequently involves the use of violence

• in areas where there are few children from minority ethnic communities, these children may be particularly vulnerable to racial abuse; the effect is heightened by the lack of access to support from other minority ethnic children.

This experience was also reflected in a study carried out by the Centre for Race Equality in Education in Scotland (CERES) in 2005. 

• Racism, both direct and indirect, was seen as a feature of daily life by minority ethnic pupils.
  Many recognised the gulf between their first-hand experience and the perceptions held by their teachers, whom they considered to be unaware, disbelieving or ignorant about the reality of their lives in school and outside.

• Teachers had a different view from pupils and parents: they stressed the success of the school ethos and intolerance towards racial bullying and racist incidents. Most teachers thought of racism in terms of inter-pupil relations. However, some acknowledged the racist language of the staff room. 
  In the main, the infrequency of reported racist incidents was interpreted as a sign that there were no problems.

• Given the ‘divide’ between the views of ethnic pupils and parents and teachers, consideration needs to be given not just to putting in place effective reporting and recording mechanisms but also to setting up procedures which monitor how conflicts are resolved.
  This is especially important for the perspectives of those individuals or groups which have been targeted.

In addition, while there are similarities with other kinds of bullying, racist abuse still has a unique power. Gaine (We’re All White, Thanks: The Persisting Myth about ‘White’ Schools, Trentham Books, 2005) summarises the special nature of racist insults thus:

• They are not just used between children because:
  • adults use them towards other adults
  • adults use them towards children
  • children use them towards adults.
• They do not just insult an individual: they also insult the family, others from the same background, people of the same religion, speakers of the same language - they insult what you are, not who you are.
• They reflect stigma and real inequalities in the adult world, eg in housing and employment.
• They attack something the victims can do nothing about.