Critically assess the ways in which the experiences of immigrants and refugee communities in Western societies have been shaped by issues of race and racism? – PO-253- Yumna Rangoonwala
Worldwide migration has reached historic proportions in today’s globe, with current
projections estimating that roughly 281 million individuals were living as international
migrants in 2020, accounting for 3.6% of the world’s population (International
Organization for Migration, 2021). In addition, an estimated 26 million refugees exist
worldwide (Amnesty International, 2019). As a result, there has been a massive
increase in ethnic and racial variety inside countries, raising serious concerns about the
shaping and negative influence of race and racism on the experiences of these groups.
It can be argued that race is merely a social construct, which results in racism, where a
“superior” race exercises dominance and control over others (International Labour
Organization, 2001, p. 2). This essay seeks to explore this notion by assessing the
influence of racial stereotypes on immigrants’ and refugees’ access to education and
employment, along with the role of media and immigration policies in perpetuating
racial inequality. Echoing Priyamvada Gopal’s belief that “we cannot talk about
racism without understanding whiteness,” this essay will explore the concept of
‘whiteness’ and argue that it has played a crucial role in perpetuating the racist
experiences that immigrants and refugees face as they navigate the challenges of
belonging and integration in Western societies (Gopal, 2020).
We will begin this essay by considering the influence racial stereotypes can have on
immigrants’ and refugees’ access to education and employment. Markus Appel
discusses how a study revealed that unfavourable stereotypes and prejudice towards
immigrants and refugees might result in cognitive underperformance and worse
educational attainment (Markus Appel, 2015, p. 10). Immigrants and refugees
subjected to negative prejudice may experience “stereotype threat,” a phenomenon in
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