2.1.1
Racism, Prejudice and Bias
Racism starts with prejudice, biases, discrimination, microagressions and macroaggressions.
As a counsellor it is imperative to act in a reflective, responsible and responsive way to personal attitudes and assumptions. We must consider our own cultural backgrounds and intersectionality to gather information about how we may have blind spots in ways that affect clients and their cultural identities.
this means self reflection: counsellor must understand their own positioning and to be conscious about imposing personal worldviews: such as power imbalances, privilege, and awareness of communication that might promote asymmetric social contexts.
Internalised Racism: when a person feels that their own racial group is inferior.
Interpersonal Racism: racism with in the same cultural group
Systemic Racism: practices, values & policies of systems within structures, organisations, or institutions.
Racism can be seen in the way people of colour often face barriers that white people generally do not, particularly within systems such as healthcare, education, and the justice system.
White fragility refers to the discomfort or defensiveness that some white people may experience when confronted with these inequalities or discussions about privilege. This can lead to personalising the issue or becoming reactive, rather than engaging with the broader systemic context.
Race blindness, or colour-blindness, involves ignoring racial differences. Although often well-intentioned, it can minimise lived experiences of racism and make systemic inequalities less visible.
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