Discuss the effects and costs of racial discrimination and oppression
What will be an ideal response?
Racial discrimination is a barrier in a competitive society to obtaining the necessary resources to lead a contented and comfortable life. Being discriminated against because of race makes it more difficult to obtain adequate housing, financial resources, a quality education, employment, adequate health care and other services, equal justice in civil and criminal cases, and so on.
Discrimination also has heavy psychological costs. When members of a minority group are treated by the majority group as if they are inferior, second-class citizens, it is substantially more difficult for them to develop a positive identity. Thus, people who are the objects of discrimination encounter barriers to developing their full potential as human beings. Young children of groups who are the victims of discrimination are likely to develop low self-esteem at an early age. Discrimination also has high costs for the majority group. It impairs intergroup cooperation and communication. Discrimination also is a factor in contributing to social problems among minorities, all of which have cost billions of dollars in social programs. The effects of discrimination are even reflected in life expectancy. The life expectancy of non-Whites is several years less than that of Whites in the United States.
Finally, discrimination in the United States undermines some of the nation's political goals. Non-White foreign diplomats to America often complain about being victims of discrimination, as they are mistaken for being members of American minority groups. With most of the nations of the world being non-White, our racist practices severely damage our influence and prestige.
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Society “sets up” its children as victims by:
a. teaching girls to be vulnerable b. rewarding boys for compassionate behavior c. encouraging girls to be “self-directed” d. teaching boys to believe that they’re “powerful”
How do affluence and wealth relate to housing and community of residence?
A. Home ownership, where one resides, and how many homes one owns is an indication of wealth and status. B. Subsidized housing is available to all people regardless of affluence or wealth. C. Class identity is a cohesive identity and creates a source of distinct culture and traditions. D. Affluence and wealth really only exist in the top 0.01% now and do not directly impact where people live.
In the seventh competency, Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities, students should be able to ______.
A. understand that assessment is an ongoing component and process of social work practice B. understand the theories of adult development C. understand the use of addiction assessments D. lead an Alcoholic Anonymous group
If a social worker determines that a person is struggling with a problem that is caused by something in that person’s
environment, they are most likely to take a:
a. Micro approach to solving the problem b. Psychoanalytic approach to solving the problem c. Macro approach to solving the problem d. Confrontational approach to solving the problem