While I sometimes hear of and bear witness to subtle discrimination, this piece of news bolsters the case of those who continue to champion equality that racism is more pervasive and widespread than is recognised. This is another manifestation of human rights abuse slipping pass the net of protective laws and unmonitored school bullying.
MORE than two-thirds of young people are the victims of racism at school,
with first-generation migrant women in years 11 and 12 most at risk.
A national study has found that racism permeates Australian schools,
with 80 per cent of secondary students from non-Anglo backgrounds and 55 per
cent of students from Anglo backgrounds saying they had experienced racial
vilification.
Interviews conducted with 900 secondary school students across
Australia also found Anglo-Australian youths displayed consistent prejudice
towards other cultural groups, particularly towards darker-skinned students from
places such as Africa and India.Students who attended a Catholic school were 1.7 times less likely to report experiences of racism than students going to government schools.
Racism made students feel angry, depressed, increased headaches, muscle tension and made them not want to go to school, the study found.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/schools-a-hotbed-of-racism-study-20091118-imk8.html
This is a sad state of affairs. Discrimination which stem from prejudices are much more intractable especially if such perceptions are partly cultivated at home, in society and through sublimal messages on TV or private jokes. More appalling is the fact that some officials (these youths who grow up and graduate to take up appointments of responsibilities to the public) too hold such prejudicial and judgement views on the basis of race. It may not easy to convince them to change the mindset but there are avenues for the persistent to seek redress.
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