racism is always confronting. it is especially difficult when it comes out of the mouth of a family member. Someone who will always at your diner table at family functions but with atrocious values. My brother in law began the tirade about the migrants who are violent criminals. He argued that Sydney is going down the toilet because of these migrant gangs. He sees them "everywhere" and they are responsible for violence and crime.
Psychology can explain racism. it can explain that we have a tendency to attend to the bits of information that confirms our attitudes but we ignore the bits that don't. So my brother in law only sees and only remembers the examples of the migrant violence but conveniently ignores the violence caused by anglo celtic aussies.
The other bit of psychology is much more personal ( in a way). Any forensic psychologist can tell you that people behaving badly are every where. They come from all backgrounds, all races. They are more likely to be uneducated, illiterate, not very smart. They are often traumatised and have been exposed to violence, they are dispossessed and without resources. Forensic psychologists can tell you that shit is not race specific.
Unfortunately bigoted and uneducated racist men don't often want to listen to the wisdom of university educated women. ah...pass the bottle of wine.
|
|
|
|---|
