Glossary
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The following list of definitions explains the meaning of terms (within the context of the subject of racism) which appear on this website.
Antagonism
An actively expressed feeling of dislike and hostility.
Asylum seeker
An asylum seeker is someone who has applied to the government to be recognised as a refugee.
Discrimination
Direct discrimination
Where one group of people is treated less favourably than others in circumstances which are the same or not materially different, on grounds of race, ethnic origin, religion or belief, eg harassment is a form of direct discrimination.
Indirect discrimination
A provision or practice that everyone has to conform to, but which some groups cannot meet so easily.
Multiple discrimination
When discrimination occurs on multiple grounds, eg race and religion.
Displaced person
Someone forced to flee from his or her home or country.
Diversity
Recognising and valuing the fact that society is made up of many different groups with different interests, skills, talents, needs etc, eg cultural diversity.
Equality
The Scotland Act describes equality of opportunity as 'the prevention, elimination or regulation of discrimination between people because of their sex or marital status, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, language or social origin, or because of other personal attributes including beliefs or opinions such as religious beliefs or political opinions.'
In the context of race equality work this concept can mean offering every individual, regardless of their race, ethnicity or nationality, equal access to goods and services and equal rights under the law. It involves organisations interacting fairly and impartially with every individual to ensure that their different needs and requirements are met. This does not mean treating everyone in the same manner. An equitable approach is one that identifies and takes account of difference and in fairly distributing time and resources, and impartially assessing outcomes.
Ethnic
Relating to a group of people having a common national or cultural tradition.
Exploitation
Taking advantage of something or someone for one's own benefit or profit, eg exploitation of the colonies for the benefit of the mother country.
Harassment
Unwanted conduct that violates people's dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment on the grounds of race, ethnic origin, religion or belief. This is a form of direct discrimination.
Incitement to racial hatred
The publishing or distribution of written matter which is threatening, abusive or insulting, or the use of, in any public place or at any public meeting, words which are threatening, abusive or insulting to any racial group.
Indigenous
Native to an area, eg people.
Institutional racism
When an organisation's procedures and policies amount to disadvantaging people from minority ethnic backgrounds.
It is defined by the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry as: 'the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin.
It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racial stereotyping which disadvantages minority ethnic people'.
Intolerance
An unwillingness to recognize and respect differences in other people's views and beliefs.
Itinerant
Travelling from place to place.
Migrant
A person who moves from one place to another to find work, eg economic migrant.
Minority ethnic community
A group within another community that differs ethnically from the main population.
Multicultural
Relating to or constituting many different cultural or ethnic groups.
Persecution
Being mistreated physically and/or mentally over a period of time, especially as a result of political or religious beliefs.
Prejudice
An attitude that predisposes a person to think, feel, perceive or act in a favourable or unfavourable way towards a group or its individual members.
Racial grounds
Any of the following grounds: colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origins.
Racial group
A group of persons defined by reference to colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origins.
Racism
Conduct, words or practices which disadvantage or advantage people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. It can be subtle or overt, intentional or unwitting.
Refugee, political refugee
A person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.
An asylum seeker is someone who has applied to the government to be recognised as a refugee.
Stereotyping
Acting on assumptions about any role which is suitable for certain groups of people.
Victimisation
Treating people less favourably because of something they have done, eg made a formal complaint of discrimination.
Xenophobia
A term to describe negative attitudes towards those that appear to be foreigners. In Britain, the word 'racism' is more common.