CHAPTER 4 Racism and White Privilege Developing Multicultural

CHAPTER 4: Racism and White Privilege Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach Second Edition Danica G. Hays and Bradley T. Erford

Historical Foundations of Race and Racism • Origins of racial “differences” • Race & ethnicity are often confused • • Race implies a common descent of heredity • Ethnicity refers to cultural characteristics (e. g. , rituals, work ethic, social mores, values) The U. S. Government uses racial categories as social constructs for collecting data, rather than basing categories on biological factors Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -2

Social Construction of Race • Racial classifications throughout history • Early racial classification systems based on physical characteristics paved the way for later forms of racism • Physical characteristics alone are insufficient to make distinctions among people Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -3

Defining Racism • • Racism - an ongoing, multidimensional, & dynamic process inherent in the development & maintenance of an institutionalized, hierarchical racial classification system • individual, group, & systemic levels • intentional & unintentional negative & erroneous stereotypical beliefs Racism is built to maintain itself and is enabled by racial worldview & institutional racial classification systems • Individual racism • Institutional racism/ Structural racism • Cultural racism/ Internalized racism Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -4

Costs of Racism for People of Color Cognitive costs: Mental energy & psychological processes, Internalized racism • Affective costs • Frustration, irritation, hostility = antecedents for anger & depression • Stress and hypervigilance • Interpersonal costs • Segregation of people by racial classification • Creates misinformation, misunderstanding, & miscommunication • Barriers to cross-cultural relationships • Fear, suspicion, & distrust between people of color • Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -5

Costs of Racism for People of Color • Physical costs: • Hypertension • chronic fatigue • delivery of low birth weight pre-term infants • physical violence • outcomes related to health care Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -6

White Privilege • • White privilege- positive ways in which Whites, benefit from racism. • Benefits & privileges can be unintentional or unconscious • May cause simultaneous comfort and guilt within Whites • Allows Whites the choice to acknowledge racism White supremacy - the belief that the superiority of Whites justifies disproportionate access to social & economic resources • Examples of unearned advantages Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -7

White Privilege Continued • is often invisible to Whites • contains psychological & intellectual costs to Whites • contains several myths that perpetuate privilege for Whites • differentially benefits Whites • may even benefit those who do not identify as White Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -8

Costs of Racism for Whites • Ways in which Whites cope with & respond to racism & racial privilege have cognitive, affective, & interpersonal costs for them • Costs are minimal compared to those for people of color • Cognitive costs: • delusion of superiority • lack of accurate awareness as a cultural being • Inability to develop a full range of knowledge of racial issues & culture Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -9

Costs of Racism for Whites Continued • Affective costs: • vary depending on White’s awareness of racial issues • may include irrational sense of danger & fear of non-Whites • may result in anger which can result in denial • may include anxiety due to guilt • may result in lowered self-esteem Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -10

Costs of Racism for Whites Cont. • Interpersonal costs: • loss of relationships with people of color or with other Whites • distorted sense of others because of reliance on stereotypes & a lack of understanding of people of color • limited interaction with people of color • severed relationships with Whites who do not work for social advocacy • limited social competence Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -11

Whites’ Psychological Responses to Racism & White Privilege • Great cognitive & emotional dissonance associated with racism & White privilege awareness. • Whites engage in various defense mechanisms to help them reduce costs of White racism. • Denial - holding color-blind racial attitudes, believing in myths of meritocracy, & focusing on exceptions to argue against claims of White racism. Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -12

Color-Blind Racial Attitudes • Color-Blind Racial Attitudes = distortion/minimization of race & racism • “I don’t see a person’s race. I only see them as a person. ” • may have difficulty establishing a trusting, therapeutic alliance Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -13

Myth of Meritocracy & Focus on Exceptions • Myth of Meritocracy - the notion that all individuals can succeed if they “work hard enough” • Focus on Exceptions • Reverse discrimination - Whites may deflect their role in perpetuating racism by focusing on times when they were discriminated against by people of color • Projection - the preoccupation of racism of others or the intellectualization of the problem Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -14

• • Psychological Dispositions of White Racism Affective-Impulsive Disposition • limited, stereotypical thinking about non-Whites & denial of the existence of racism • aggressive & hostile • little shame & guilt Rational Disposition • somewhat aware of how racism exists yet they tend to engage in either-or thinking about race relations • superficial tolerance of people of color until they encounter them when they exhibit negative reactions to any policies that encourage racial integration Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -15

Psychological Dispositions of White Racism Cont. • Liberal Disposition • • a greater understanding of racism and other forms of social injustice insight into others’ perspectives and experiences inaction on their part due to perception that they will experience negative reactions from others Principled Disposition • • • knowledgeable about how White privilege in their lives influences racism can site specific examples of racism tend to integrate discussions of racism with others in a superficial manner & report that they are cynical that current racial dynamics in the U. S. will change Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -16

Psychological Dispositions of White Racism • Principled Activistic Disposition: • understanding of racism & are hopeful & active in creating sociopolitical change • social advocates that seek to eliminate racism in specific ways within their lives • Counselors must address racial issues within therapeutic relationship. Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -17

Eradicating Racism Involves a systematic approach that focuses on: • Counselor self-awareness • awareness of one’s own attitudes & behaviors regarding racism & racial privilege • counselors of all races are encouraged to reflect on the following areas: • Cultural tunnel vision/ethnocentrism • Victim blaming • Limitations of consciousness raising • Race-based stereotyping Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -18

Eradicating Racism Cont. • Client services: • Address racism within counseling • Address client’s racial identity development • Explore client problems for race-related stress • Investigate intersections of trauma & other forms of oppression with race-related stress • Assist clients through race-related guilt • Address racism within the client’s school & community • Cultivate resources • Assess the degree & existing forms of racism • Develop new resources for the client Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -19

Eradicating Racism Cont. • Changing systems • Change existing political, legal, economic, & public health systems • be familiar with historical & current legislation & court decisions that address racial issues • Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo (1849) • Reconstruction (1865 -1877) • Indian Reorganization Act (1934) • Brown vs. Board of Education, Topeka, Kansas (1954) • Warren-Mc. Carran Act (1962) • Civil Rights Act (1964) • Immigration Act (1965) • Affirmative Action (post-Civil Rights Era) • Public Law 93 -638 (1975) • Indian Health Care Improvement Act (1976) • No Child Left Behind Act (2002) Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -20

Economic & Public Health Concerns • • People of color receive disproportionate incomes & job opportunities in comparison to their White counterparts • Based on individual, institutional, & cultural forms of racism • This is particularly important in career counseling with people of color Counselors should be aware of health disparities for people of color & how racism contributes to them Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -21