Social Locations – Racialized Communities
Equity Framework > Social Locations > Racialized Communities
The process of the social construction of race is racialization [1]. Racialization was created from an idea of difference in relation to Whiteness that has resulted in the unequal distribution of power and privilege. The term racialized is broad. Distinctions and intersectional identities exist within racialized communities and people through identities, experiences, and interactions with systems. Today, racialized groups include those who may experience differential treatment based on:
- race
- ethnicity
- language
- economics
- religion
- culture
- and other factors [2]
Racialized communities make up over half of Toronto’s general population, and this number continues to rise. Toronto’s racialized population experiences barriers in the forms of:
- systemic racism
- discrimination
- and stereotyping in all aspects of life.
Racial discrimination is a social determinant of health and racism creates barriers to:
- accessing quality health services
- education
- and information for racialized people [3].
Data analysis that highlights the ways racism and marginalization affect racialized communities is critical to the development of anti-racist and equitable policy, programs, and services [4].
To learn more about to child and family well-being disaggregated by race, including racialized students, please visit the Equity Analysis Toolkit page on Raising the Village.
References
- Ontario Human Rights Commission, Racial discrimination, race and racism (fact sheet). Retrieved February 14, 2020, from http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/racial-discrimination-race-and-racism-fact-sheet
- City of Ottawa. (2018). Equity and Inclusion Lens Handbook. Available from: https://documents.ottawa.ca/sites/documents/files/ei_lens_hb_en.pdf
- Brooks, D. (2010). Inner City Health: Experiences of Racialization & Health Inequity: Wellesley Institute. Retrieved February 14, 2020, from https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Inner_City_Health_Experiences_of_Racialization.March_._20101.pdf
- The Toronto Child & Family Network (2016). Raising the Village, Equity Analysis Toolkit. Retrieved March 11, 2020, from https://raisingthevillage.ca/social-identity-toolkit/