Working Together to Better Serve all Nova Scotians

Working Together to Better Serve all Nova Scotians Consumer Racial Profiling Report Ann Divine, Manager Race Relations, Equity and Inclusion, NSHRC May 30, 2013 Human Rights Commission

When Nova Scotians work together we can do some incredible things Human Rights Commission

Why this study? • With directions from the Commissioners, the NSHRC decided to explore this issue because of the number of complaints received from members of the public. • Shoppers of racialized groups felt their rights to fully participate in our society were being violated. • Discriminatory behavior based on their race, ethnicity, or both are impacting their lives. Human Rights Commission

Why this study? (cont’d) • Their social and economic contribution to Nova Scotia’s economy is often not seen valuable to certain business communities. • Radicalized people – African Canadians, Aboriginal people, people from the Middle Eastern countries and Asians said, they are treated poorly when they shop for good and services. Human Rights Commission

What is Consumer Racial Profiling (CRP)? • This infringement of a customer’s rights to participate is known as Consumer Racial Profiling. • In the past it was ignored or consumers suffered but now we have a name - it is a new term for old behavior - Racism • Our study is the first of its kind in Canada Human Rights Commission

How do we Define CRP? • Consumer Racial Profiling is defined as any type of differential treatment based on a perception of the consumer’s race or ethnicity that constitutes the denial or degradation of the product or service offered to the customer (Williams Henderson, & Harris, 2001) the practice may or may not be intentional Human Rights Commission

How do we Define CRP? (cont’d) If you, as a business owner or service provider, is doing one or more of these things because of their race: • Ignore • Take a long time to serve them even when you are not busy • Follow them • As whether they can afford a product or service Human Rights Commission

How do we Define CRP? (cont’d) • Use offensive language such a racial slur • Search them or their belongings • Detain them when they do not have stolen goods • Physically removed from a store Human Rights Commission

Survey Research • HRM - between March 19 and March 28 2012 • Sydney and Digby - on March 28 and April 13, 2012 • Overall 1, 190 surveys were completed in HRM, Digby and Sydney • These were face-to-face interviews and conducted in a public place Human Rights Commission

Survey Research (cont’d) • The survey was to collect information about consumers experiences and to compare those across different races and ethnicities • It did not explore CRP • It explored the prevalence and frequency of consumer incidents that have been associated with CRP • The conclusion of the survey asked participants to self identify race, ethnicity, gender and highest level of education Human Rights Commission

People who Participated • • Whites - 709 Asian -191 African Canadians -150 Middle Eastern - 86 Aboriginal - 41 Latin American -13 The numbers almost are a reflection of the percentage of diverse population from the 2006 census Human Rights Commission

Focus Groups • The focus groups were to gain information and deeper understanding of the experience and impacts of CRP • The focus groups were held in Millbrook, HRM and Dartmouth • 29 individuals participated • Participants had to be at least 18 years of age, identify themselves as a marginalized race or ethnicity in NS and have experienced CRP Human Rights Commission

Informed Literature • The literature in this field is very limited • Experimental studies were limited to cities in America leaving the Canadian context unexplored and unknown • The literature emphasized the experience of Blacks in America • There remains a gap in the literature of the experience, prevalence and effects of CRP in Canada Human Rights Commission

What the Research Found • The results of our study conducted for the CRP Project show that race or ethnicity is the most important factor in the experience of consumer incidents • All participants experienced some degree of poor service • Overall Aboriginals and African Canadian respondents demonstrated the highest prevalence and frequency rates in experiencing consumer incidents Human Rights Commission

What the Research Found (cont’d) • Participants spoke of their treatment by staff and security personnel • They identified their treatment as second class citizens who are poor, dangerous and likely to steal from stores • They spoke about strategic in their claims for differential treatment, mentioning that when they shopped they “watch for patterns” • They observe how staff are treating white people and compare to how they are treated Human Rights Commission

What the Research Found (cont’d) • All participants spoke about avoiding stores where they had negative racial profiling experiences • They prefer to take their money to businesses where they are treated with respect and dignity (ex: “I won’t give them my money”, “I don’t go back to spend my money there”, “We used to look around, now we don’t do that, we go in and out”) Human Rights Commission

What the Research Found (cont’d) • For Aboriginal participants, reclaiming their tax is a major issue in NS • The hidden culture of Racism for newcomers is something that was discussed as reality for them (ex: “They are telling us we are not welcomed”) • Whites have become more educated about racism • Participants suffer isolation and humiliation because there is no where to go • This was the first time they were asked to give their opinion Human Rights Commission

Breaking Down CRP • Participants from the focus groups presented solutions for breaking down CRP • CRP remains a form of invisible racism in our society, it is hidden • In order to serve our communities we need to have different levels of diversity in management, • As long as there is no change we will continue to go through the same thing over and over Human Rights Commission

Breaking Down CRP • Recognition of Economic contribution and sustaining our Economy • Enforcement of First Nations rights • Educating and training businesses on human rights • Communities need better support from the NSHRC • Rethinking the discourse of diversity being good for business • Challenging the focus of the media • Need to promote more diversity in business Human Rights Commission

Conclusion • Consumer Racial Profiling appears to be more about stereotyping than the expression of overt racism • Stereotyping continues to be a form of racism, just because the intent is not there does not mean stereotyping is not racism • All members of society need to work each day to break down the barriers of racism and discrimination and the stereotypes that are pervasive in our society Human Rights Commission

Conclusion (cont’d) • The report presents overwhelming information around the experiences of discrimination and racism in Nova Scotia society • It also represents a few glimmers of hope • This study is a small step in the right direction, in creating change and breaking down racism Human Rights Commission

Conclusion (cont’d) • CRP cannot be separated from the wider issues of systemic discrimination and significant work is to be done around White privilege and systemic racism at all levels in society • This task requires all Nova Scotians to work in partnership with each other based on values of inclusion and equity and the commitment to improve the lives of all racialized persons in NS Human Rights Commission

Acknowledgements • • • NS Human Rights Commission Dalhousie University Saint Mary’s University CT-Ebony Consulting Co. All participants in the study Human Rights Commission

• For more information on the report or where to find the report: Website: http: //www. gov. ns. ca/humanrights Phone: 1 -902 -424 -4111 Toll Free: 1 -877 -269 -7699 Human Rights Commission