Aversive Racism and Inequality in Health Care
Running Heading: Aversive Racism and Inequality in Health Care
Aversive Racism and Inequality in Health Care:
Kenisha Wilkerson
Walden University
Socioeconomic conditions of persons and the places where they live and work do strongly influence their health. In the United States, as elsewhere, the risk for mortality, morbidity, unhealthy behaviors, reduced access to health care and poor quality of care increases with decreasing socioeconomic circumstances (CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report, 2011). Bias in the health care situation is most often indirect and universal (Halwani, 2011). Indirect discrimination occurs when "exactly the same services are provided to everybody, but when cultural, religious, linguistic or other reasons it is not possible for members of one or more black and minority ethnic groups to benefit equally from them (Halwani, 2011) . Yet, when African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos are compared to European Americans, these minority groups have higher rate of chronic diseases, higher mortality, and poorer health outcomes which is documented due to health disparities. While, aversive racism is caused by clever bias and ignorance rather than any malicious feelings towards minorities. Persons who often interact with minorities as equals (ei. coworkers, friends) rather than on a different level (employee/employer) will find themselves less likely to have hidden prejudices (Cannon, 2011). However, there are methods that can be used for reducing such racism for some but for others; simply understanding that aversive racism exists can help. By examining your own behavior through the lens of aversive racism, it is possible to start really thinking about whether the excuse you gave for not hiring that last employee is really valid or it was just your brain trying to make up for the unconscious racism occurring behind the scenes. Maybe you are now thinking about the real
Aversive Racism and Inequality in Health Care:
Kenisha Wilkerson
Walden University
Socioeconomic conditions of persons and the places where they live and work do strongly influence their health. In the United States, as elsewhere, the risk for mortality, morbidity, unhealthy behaviors, reduced access to health care and poor quality of care increases with decreasing socioeconomic circumstances (CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report, 2011). Bias in the health care situation is most often indirect and universal (Halwani, 2011). Indirect discrimination occurs when "exactly the same services are provided to everybody, but when cultural, religious, linguistic or other reasons it is not possible for members of one or more black and minority ethnic groups to benefit equally from them (Halwani, 2011) . Yet, when African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos are compared to European Americans, these minority groups have higher rate of chronic diseases, higher mortality, and poorer health outcomes which is documented due to health disparities. While, aversive racism is caused by clever bias and ignorance rather than any malicious feelings towards minorities. Persons who often interact with minorities as equals (ei. coworkers, friends) rather than on a different level (employee/employer) will find themselves less likely to have hidden prejudices (Cannon, 2011). However, there are methods that can be used for reducing such racism for some but for others; simply understanding that aversive racism exists can help. By examining your own behavior through the lens of aversive racism, it is possible to start really thinking about whether the excuse you gave for not hiring that last employee is really valid or it was just your brain trying to make up for the unconscious racism occurring behind the scenes. Maybe you are now thinking about the real
Bibliography: Aversive Racism - SUBTLE BIAS, COMBATING. (2011). Retrieved April 11, 2011, from Net Industries: http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/5976/Aversive-Racism.html Cannon, L. (2011). Aversive Racism: The Hidden Racism of Open Minded Americans. Retrieved April 10, 2011, from Hubpages: http://hubpages.com/hub/Aversive-Racism-The-Hidden-Racism-of-Open-Minded-Americans CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report. (2011, January 14). Retrieved April 10, 2011, from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/other/su6001.pdf Halwani, S. (2011, April 4). Racial Inequality in Access to Health Care Services. Retrieved April 9, 2011, from Ontario Human Rights Commission: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/issues/racism/racepolicydialogue/sh (2008). Cause of Death: Inequality. In K. &. Rosenblum, The Meaning of Difference: American Constructions of Race, Sex and Gender, Social Class, Sexual Orientation, and Disability (pp. 297-300). New York: McGraw Hill.