Racism, bigotry and xenophobia
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Racism - in actions, policies, beliefs and systems
Racism is deeply rooted in Aotearoa New Zealand’s society but can seem invisible to those unaffected. Yet experiencing racism was the most common and devastating barrier to belonging that participants shared. Participants spoke of racism in many contexts - from institutions like government and schools, to being ignored in shops, to being somehow treated as inferior.
A Chinese girl walked by my class and a kid called out, “there goes coronavirus!”.
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A Chinese girl walked by my class and a kid called out, “there goes coronavirus!”.
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With my African support worker, coming back from pizza and got stopped by a cop for a 'three-point turn' which was an outright lie. Plus the cop pretended not to know them, they had had just gone through the same cops' breath testing. If it wasn't for me being white, my support worker would have gotten harassed.
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Fijian Indians have said they “never experienced as much racism as here” — even ones coming from Auckland. They can’t find any place to belong and keep their culture up.
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Out of all my cousins, 85% of them have been hurt, have been damaged by a framework of racism, by the structure.
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One of them, walked into a cafe, the lady at the counter when - you're a paki, you've got to home, you can't eat here. My friend said you will not speak to my friend like that, we won't eat here if you do.
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Bigotry - prejudice and intolerance towards difference
Intolerance of difference and an unwillingness to listen to others has increased hate speech, especially through social media. Participants shared about being afraid to express their opinion due to being targeted on social media and experiencing hate speech for being seen as different. They also talked about how public figures that spread and support bigoted opinions enable acceptance of prejudice.
Social media is a massive factor - the haters have access to other haters. But also, social media can be really good.
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Social media is a massive factor - the haters have access to other haters. But also, social media can be really good.
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They use blatant bigotry to just fit in with each other. As a joke.
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Leaders like the one in the US, empower other people in our society to behave negatively to each other.
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Don’t know that I ever do [belong]. When you hear some really redneck stuff, this isn’t the New Zealand I know and love.
There was one encounter that was posted on social [media]. They had hate symbols on them, and linked to a website that was really bad. I was tutoring at university at the time, and some of my students helped start protests against it. -
Online haters, who verbally abuse those who have a different opinion to them - that makes me hesitant to share my own opinions and beliefs.
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Xenophobia - fear of strangers or foreigners
Xenophobia is fear or hatred toward people seen as strangers or foreign. Participants often referred to this as racism; a related theme. Participants shared incidences of being seen as a negative stereotype of their religion, culture or country of origin. Participants also talked about being told they are not wanted in Aotearoa New Zealand and to return to their country of origin.
I find a lot of challenges for people that seem to be related to whether, or not, you’re born and raised here. I had personal challenges.
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I find a lot of challenges for people that seem to be related to whether, or not, you’re born and raised here. I had personal challenges.
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There is a standard assumption that Muslims don’t like Western freedom. That assumption is part of the whole problem.
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Muslims come in all different varieties, as many varieties as in any other group. There is an assumption that there are only one or two kinds of Muslims and that’s a terrible thing to be working against.
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The more that type of talk goes on in a community, the more the quieter ones, younger ones take it on. This is a very subtle way of creating influence. [related to xenophobic comments in community]
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When people were drinking, things would come out. They’d make derogatory comments - "we don’t want this f-ing Chinese,” “don’t want this person,” and so on.
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Still I hear people say, “go back to your country.” We want our kids not to lose the religion, culture, language. I feel sorry for them because [our] kids are between the culture and religion and language and here.
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