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a distinct features, but also determines social status on society. People who have different race from the majority will be regarded as a minority group
and usually have low social status in society.
3.7.2 Racism
Racism has many definitions, the most prevalent today being the belief that human beings are divided into more than one race, with members of
some races believing they are superior or inferior to members of other races. In addition, though the term ‘racism’ usually denotes race-based
prejudice ,
violence ,
discrimination , or
oppression , the term can also have
varying and hotly contested definitions. Racialism
is a related term, sometimes intended to avoid these negative meanings. According to the
Oxford English Dictionary , racism is a belief or ideology that all members of
each racial group possesses characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially to distinguish it as being either superior or inferior to another racial
group or racial groups. Merriam-Websters Dictionary
defines racism as a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and
those racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular racial group, and that it is the prejudice based on such a belief. The
Macquarie Dictionary
defines racism as “the belief that human races have distinctive characteristics which determine their respective
cultures , usually involving
the idea that ones own race is superior and has the right to rule or dominate others.”
The term ‘racism’ usually deals with differentiation among groups of
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people based on racial and ethnic background. What Spencer 1985:241 states below clearly shows that the practice of racism is caused by three
assumptions including certain important abilities and social traits are passed on genetically not socially. Human groups that are socially defined as ‘race’
differ in their possession of these traits, and the hereditary differences between ‘races’ make some of them feel superior to others and give them
special respect and rights. He defines the term ‘racism’ as follows: Racism is a set of belief comprising three assumptions: 1 that
certain important abilities and social traits are passed on genetically, not socially; 2 that human groups socially defined as “races” differ in
their possession of these traits; and 3 that these hereditary differences between “races” make some of them superior to others and justify
giving them special respect and rights.
3.7.3 The Impacts of Racism towards Society
