Question

What is aversive racism? How is this form of racism evidenced in society?

Answer 1

Aversive racism is characterised by subtle behaviours by a particular ethnic group that are aimed towards an avoidance of interaction with another ethnic group. Compared to overt racism, aversive racism is highly complex and difficult to detect but it involves an ambivalence towards the discrimated group. It is often noted that those individuals who engage in aversive racism may outwardly profess no feelings of prejudice, however, will show a contrast in their behaviour during the point of contact with the discriminated group. In today’s society, one can see a mutliple manifestations of this type of racism, as many individuals seem to be voicing egalitarian beliefs and yet behaviourally practising otherwise. Such individuals do not discriminate in situations wherein social norms are strongly set into place, rather, their implicit attitudes become apparent in situations with poorly defined social norms where they can easily rantionalize their discriminatory views.