Site Search:
 
Speak Korean Now!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Koreans in Canada Feel Put Down by Subtle Racism
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Off-Topic Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
jajdude



Joined: 18 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 7:55 pm    Post subject: Koreans in Canada Feel Put Down by Subtle Racism Reply with quote

This may be interesting to some.
==========================

Racism does upset those at the receiving end, even if it is all subtle, as in Canada apparently. Social slights and ambiguous remarks that are hard to pin down is more dangerous to mental health than overt discrimination, according to a study of 180 Korean immigrants living in Canada.

"We found that the subtle form of discrimination has a greater impact on psychological distress such as symptoms of depression and anxiety," said lead author Samuel Noh, professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto.

The study, which appears in the July issue of the American Journal of Public Health, involved a survey of mostly middle-aged Korean immigrants now living in Toronto. While the participants' reports of overt discrimination related to moods that were less positive, only subtle discrimination showed a connection with actual psychological symptoms.

As it happens while Blacks in USA, victims of almost institutionalized racism, seem to be in a position to remain indifferent or fight back violently, in any case don’t any sleep over the White arrogance, Asians seem caught off guard.

"It's easier to shrug off overt discrimination," Noh said. "You can attribute it to irrational behavior on the part of the other person. You don't have to examine yourself or the situation too closely."

Overt discrimination such as racist remarks is a clear form of prejudice, but subtle discrimination is harder to pinpoint. For example, if your colleagues invite others to dinner but not you, it is hard to know if it is because they've known each other for a long time, because they don't like you or because they are uncomfortable with people of your race.

The study found that while the effects of overt discrimination related to simply experiencing it, the effects of subtle discrimination could influence how the person thought about what had happened.

"Subtle discrimination mostly occurs in interactions with people who are close to you like colleagues, your manager, your friends and it's not very clear or explicit," Noh said. As those experiencing the discrimination try to determine what is going on, they are likely to examine their social role, including whether people around them accept them truly. "If you are in a situation where you have to continuously appraise your abilities or your quality as a person, obviously, that would affect your self-esteem," Noh said.

The resulting tension would be difficult to handle for many. Other research has found that depressed people tend to personalize rejection and see it as directed at their own individual failings. Noh suggested that if immigrants instead recognize the role that subtle racial discrimination can play, this "may serve as a protective factor."

David Takeuchi, a professor of sociology and social work at the University of Washington who was not involved in the study, said that research on African-Americans indicates that while racism does affect their mental health, it has a greater effect on their physical health than it does on victims of prejudice who are not African-American.

"Unfortunately, discrimination for African-Americans is more normalized," he said. "They may have developed a better way of coping with the psychological effects. Asian immigrants may not have had that experience because they may have come from a situation in which they were the majority." Takeuchi said the new study "continues the documentation that shows that unfair treatment and discrimination can have powerful effects on people's health. It's a well-crafted study and Noh and his colleagues are doing pioneering work.
===========================

http://www.medindia.net/news/view_main_print_new.asp
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
laogaiguk



Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 7:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bah, fat whities get worse than that.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jajdude



Joined: 18 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

laogaiguk wrote:
Bah, fat whities get worse than that.


So the minority is discriminating against the majority?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
laogaiguk



Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jajdude wrote:
laogaiguk wrote:
Bah, fat whities get worse than that.


So the minority is discriminating against the majority?


Hollywood is discriminating against the majority, which makes the majority discriminate against itself Wink

But seriously, a fat person would have to put up with a lot more crap than what that article said, and most of that crap wouldn't be subtle!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Pligganease



Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: The deep south...

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's crap. Korean immigrants in Canada have it worse than black people in the United States?

Rolling Eyes
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
T-dot



Joined: 16 May 2004
Location: bundang

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The koreans in the survey are most likely hurt for being outcasted (wangta) and racism is the most convenient excuse.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
mindmetoo



Joined: 02 Feb 2004

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Canada: Really, you experience racism? What can we do to make you feel more at home? Any government programs?

Korea: Really, you experience racism? You don't understand Korean culture. You never will but you should try.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
thepeel



Joined: 08 Aug 2004

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

mindmetoo wrote:
Canada: Really, you experience racism? What can we do to make you feel more at home? Any government programs?

Korea: Really, you experience racism? You don't understand Korean culture. You never will but you should try.


Maybe the racism they experience is from the 40-50k non-Korean Canadians who have "worked" in Korea for a year or longer. I know more than a few people who despise the ground Koreans walk on after being treated like a dog for a year at wonderland or some such shit. I know that I most certainly won't give them the benefit of the doubt in situations where their honesty/integrity is in question. I know their secrets. Maybe too many people know their secrets.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
kermo



Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

mindmetoo wrote:
Canada: Really, you experience racism? What can we do to make you feel more at home? Any government programs?

Korea: Really, you experience racism? You don't understand Korean culture. You never will but you should try.


Holy smokes. I think you're onto something there...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
kermo



Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
"We found that the subtle form of discrimination has a greater impact on psychological distress such as symptoms of depression and anxiety," said lead author Samuel Noh, professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto.


I'm uncomfortable with the conclusions drawn by this research. If the remarks are ambiguous, then aren't they more likely to bother people who are prone to depression and anxiety?

Quote:
The resulting tension would be difficult to handle for many. Other research has found that depressed people tend to personalize rejection and see it as directed at their own individual failings. Noh suggested that if immigrants instead recognize the role that subtle racial discrimination can play, this "may serve as a protective factor."


So, he's advising people to be more suspicious and assume more racially motivated rejection rather than taking it personally? Wouldn't that just feed paranoia and increase isolation?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
thepeel



Joined: 08 Aug 2004

PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

kermo wrote:
Quote:
"We found that the subtle form of discrimination has a greater impact on psychological distress such as symptoms of depression and anxiety," said lead author Samuel Noh, professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto.


I'm uncomfortable with the conclusions drawn by this research. If the remarks are ambiguous, then aren't they more likely to bother people who are prone to depression and anxiety?

Quote:
The resulting tension would be difficult to handle for many. Other research has found that depressed people tend to personalize rejection and see it as directed at their own individual failings. Noh suggested that if immigrants instead recognize the role that subtle racial discrimination can play, this "may serve as a protective factor."


So, he's advising people to be more suspicious and assume more racially motivated rejection rather than taking it personally? Wouldn't that just feed paranoia and increase isolation?


Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Alyallen



Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Location: The 4th Greatest Place on Earth = Jeonju!!!

PostPosted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

mindmetoo wrote:
Canada: Really, you experience racism? What can we do to make you feel more at home? Any government programs?

Korea: Really, you experience racism? You don't understand Korean culture. You never will but you should try.


LOL....Oh no, subtle racism! Let the paranoia begin!

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
nautilus



Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!

PostPosted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Its terrible, that 10.000 illegal korean immigrants in Canada occasionally get neglected at dinner parties. Humanity is really at a low ebb.

They should print it in the Korean media. It'd justify the 20 on 1 beatings foreigners regularly take on the streets of seoul.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
thepeel



Joined: 08 Aug 2004

PostPosted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

nautilus wrote:
Its terrible, that 10.000 illegal korean immigrants in Canada occasionally get neglected at dinner parties. Humanity is really at a low ebb.

They should print it in the Korean media. It'd justify the 20 on 1 beatings foreigners regularly take on the streets of seoul.


A small detail, but there are 100,000 illegal Koreans in Canada..
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
normalcyispasse



Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Location: Yeosu until the end of February WOOOOOOOO

PostPosted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 2:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cry me a fkin river.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Off-Topic Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next
Page 1 of 5

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe
TEFL Courses, TESOL Course, English Teaching Jobs - TEFL International