Forms of Racial Domination Essay Example

sometimes sexual abuse as punishment. The government of Sudan supports the muraheleen in their fight against the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM), an insurgent group associated with the Dinka tribe in southern Sudan.

Segregation is the primary type of ethnic dominance in contemporary society, where a dominant cultural group establishes laws to promote physical and social segregation from a racially deemed inferior group. This division is evident in housing, education, occupations, and public facilities. At present, an unspoken standard of de facto segregation exists, shaping people's actions and resulting in real separation (Hachen, 2001). In Indian society, caste serves as the basis for traditional division.

The Indian caste system enforces the segregation of individuals from different castes, prohibiting their interaction. This is evident in the allocation of specific areas within public establishments like restaurants, schools, and places of worship for each caste. Although India has laws against caste-based discrimination, these traditions persist in Indian society and culture. Caste affiliation continues to hold importance in areas such as marriage and employment (Dalrymple, 1992).

In certain societies, individuals face unjust treatment based on factors such as their race, religion, gender, or physical disability. In Northern Ireland, the number of racial attacks against children rose by 45% from 186 in 1999 to 269 in 2000 (BBC News, 2002). A survey conducted by the University of Ulster in 2000 found that around two-thirds of respondents (at least 1,250 people) stated their unwillingness to cooperate with travelers (BBC News, 2000). Moreover, over half of the respondents expressed their refusal to have travelers as neighbors (BBC News, 2000).

In 2000, a BBC survey revealed that a significant number of individuals expressed their preference to not

work with people of Asian, Afro-Caribbean, or Chinese descent. This prejudice is commonly associated with loyalist paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland who believe that immigrants are responsible for job theft and taking away social services from locals. The high rate of unemployment, inadequate housing program (considered the worst in Europe), and increasing poverty levels in Northern Ireland contribute to an environment favorable for racist violence. Loyalist paramilitaries justify their acts of racial violence by attributing social problems in Northern Ireland to immigrants. Consequently, the presence of diverse racial and ethnic groups inevitably leads society to encounter racial stereotypes.

The act of upholding false and derogatory generalizations about minorities is a common practice among dominant cultural groups. This is done with the intention to solidify their dominance in society. Unfortunately, these stereotypes are difficult to change and can have harmful, unjust, and counterproductive consequences. Discrimination is directly fueled by racial stereotypes (UTulsa.edu, n.d.). One such stereotype that emerged after 9/11 depicts all terrorists as individuals from Arab origin, largely due to the infamous actions of Al-Qaeda.

Arab individuals residing in Western countries often confront heightened airport searches and immediate suspicion in cases related to terrorist attacks. Three Canadian citizens, Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad El Maati, and Muayyed Nureddin, were mistakenly labeled as terrorists by Canadian law enforcement officials. They endured detention, torture, and eventual release without any charges following separate trips to Syria between 2001 and 2003 (Noronha, 2008).

In conclusion, efforts aimed at establishing racial dominance within societies comprised of multiple ethnic groups involve various actions such as genocide, expulsion, slavery, segregation, discrimination, and categorization.

Efforts to establish ethnic supremacy can have dangerous and deadly consequences, leading to racial

animosity, conflict, and violence. A truly progressive society requires its members to learn how to respect and honor differences.

References

1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/2147081.stm
2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/712816.stm
3. http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/africa/sudanupdate.htm