We are constantly told by doctors to avoid being stressed
because it can break our bodies down physically and mentally, leading to
sickness, disease, and emotional disorders. In the article titled, Diagnosing
Discrimination: Stress from Perceived Racism and the Mental and Physical Health
Effects, Kathryn Anderson argues that due to a disadvantaged social position,
minorities are exposed to the social stresses of discrimination causing
increased health risks. In Anderson's study, she concluded that 18.2% of black
participants experienced stress compared to that of 3.5% from whites.The most
interesting concept is that this stress does not only formulate from actual
physical or verbal abuse, it is the fear of being discriminated against alone
that allows peoples blood pressure and heart rates to rise. For several
minorities, this fear arises from the moment they wake up in the morning,
scared to enter a society generally dominated by white males.
How do we know the root of this stress is developed from the
mere anticipation of being discriminated against? Author Jason Silverstein of,
How Racism Is Bad for Our Bodies, touches base on a study done by Pamela J.
Sawyer which links the anticipation of prejudice to physical effects of stress
on the body. Latino students were paired with a white student and had to give a
3 minute speech on 'what they are like as a work partner'. Previous to the
speech the white students took a test to declare whether or not they held
racist beliefs. The results of these tests were shared with the Latino students
so they were aware if their partner was racist or not. Results showed blood
pressure and heart rate levels were significantly higher for the Latino
students when paired this a racist white student. What this showed was an
increased sympathetic response, commonly referred to as the 'Fight or Flight
response'. If these Latino students heart rates and blood pressures sky rocket
for a three minute speech, imagine the bodily effects done internally when
policies such as 'Stop and Frisk' are mandated and they face these situations in every day life.
What is wrong with the 'Stop and Frisk' policy? It seems
like a good way to get crime off the street right? Well lets take a look at the
numbers. In 2011 there were 685,724 people stopped and frisked. In 70 of 76
precincts, 50% of the stops made were either black or Latino. Overall 168,126
of the people stopped were young black men. This number exceeds the amount of
young black men in New York City. What was even more surprising to me was that
90% of the black and Latino men stopped were innocent.
In the article by Julia Wong titled, America's 'reality' is
white and male, a news reporter named Julie Chen went as far as to have actual
surgery on her face because her director said her Asian features made her look
bored and uninterested in what the
people had to say. It is amazing how a person can physically, mentally and
internally be affected by the social atmosphere in which they live in.
I agree with your idea that the greatest health risk is how these minorities are coping with racism in society. Racism is always going to be a part of society no matter how miniscule. This is because history will never be forgotten and the minorities in America will always have what happened with slavery and other examples of discrimination in the back of their minds. But in the modern world, it should not effect them enough to drive their level of health down. I think that actual racism can will have a negative affect on minorities, but the anticipation should not be a huge issue anymore in my opinion. Like you, I believe that no matter what race you are, you have the same chance at achieving success an any other race. The case with Julie Chen could be an argument against that, but not every news station would have reacted the same way her news director did. I do not agree with her getting the surgery to open her eyes, she could searched for a new job with people who are not racist. This isn't to say that racism is okay or should be looked at any less, in any case there should not be racism in the 21st century any more, I think instead of Chen getting surgery, her news director should have faced percaussions for his restriction of Chens work.
ReplyDeleteYou make some really good points! In addition to, and in support of, what you've said I think it's important to note the points made by Jason Silverstein. He also points to the increased rate of infant mortality and pre-term labor in African Americans. He makes an interesting point in that the health of the African American today resembles that of a white American 40 years ago. Discrimination is literally killing our country. An entire segment of our population is at risk due to racial stereotyping and racism emitted by another segment of our society. It's a sad reality and a vicious cycle. I do, however, disagree with what you say in the last paragraph. Yes, in an ideal world everyone strives to be the best they can be, but it's hypocritical to expect some races to "get up and continue to move forward" without enforcing this in all races. Every race should strive to be the best they can be, and if this was the case then there would be no racism! Unfortunately racism is a very prevalent and relevant problem in our country. I think the way to combat the bigger problem of health and racial inequality is to face the problem at its roots. We teach our children to love everyone, we discourage our friends from using discriminatory language, we take the lead and strive to be the best we can be and hope others will soon follow.
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