Introduction
Over time, the concept of race continues to change in different cultures. Race and ethnicity make up a huge part of the social order and how people relate to significant issues. Wahab et al. (2022) noted that differences in skin color and culture determine an individual’s position in society, and this, more often than not, brings about biased treatment. Individuals who come from minority groups do not enjoy the same privileges as those who come from groups that are not marginalized. Race and ethnicity play a huge role in different types of relationships, from workplace relationships to marriage relationships, friendships, and other kinds of networks. This essay pays close attention to how race and ethnicity influence opportunities, individual health, and relationships. These issues are relevant in the world today as they highlight why it is important for people from different races to learn how to live with each other.
In a study carried out by New York Ipsos, it was found that over 27 nations analyzed, on average, 65% of adults believe that some race or nationality influences one’s chances of getting into employment (New York, 2021). The majority of the people in that study highlighted that their race has an impact on their employment opportunities. An individual’s race influences their chances of better education, housing, and other social services. There has been an increase in the difference in terms of people’s opportunity to access better education, housing, employment, and all different social services all over the world. Depending on the race one belongs to, they are able to get a particular set of privileges, discrimination, violence, and prejudice. The differences that come about as a result of people coming from different races have been present for centuries in the United States. Studies have shown that different races earn different amounts of income. However, white people are more prone to getting better opportunities.
Wofford et al. (2019) noted that there is little information on how discrimination affects interpersonal relationships, their relationships, and their health. When people are discriminated against, they often have to deal with stress, which may negatively affect their mental and physical health. When an individual has to deal with discrimination multiple times, they are likely to deal with depression, poor physical health, and other severe illnesses. Exposure to racial discrimination is seen as traumatic and stressful; it is likely to result in increased anxiety, hopelessness, and helplessness. Therefore, racial discrimination has major impacts on the health of individuals, making it harder for some members of the community to live full lives. They often deal with anxiety and other health complications.
Lavner et al. (2018) noted that African American experience discrimination on a daily basis; this negatively affects their everyday lives and extends to their romantic relationships. Additionally, other stressors influence individual relationships, bringing about low-quality relationships. Racial discrimination and biasness bring about stress to most minority groups, bringing about low satisfaction in relationships or increased levels of relationship instability. The different perceptions of racism bring about psychological and physiological responses that are likely to bring about coping mechanisms from avoidance to help one gain control. These individuals are likely to suffer from anger and hostility from the discrimination they experience. This is likely to impact romantic relationships negatively. Despite the fact that there is little research on the association between relationships and discrimination, it is evident that racial discrimination has a negative impact on relationships among African American-people.
After analyzing some of the ways that racial discrimination influences individuals in society today, it is clear that the gap needs to be bridged. Society should find a way to bridge this gap and ensure all people feel included, heard, and prioritized, as all people are the same, no matter their race or culture.
References
Lavner, J. A., Barton, A. W., Bryant, C. M., & Beach, S. R. H. (2018, August). Racial discrimination and relationship functioning among African American couples. Journal of family psychology: JFP: journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6072617/
New York. (2021). Impact of race ethnicity on opportunities. IPSOS. https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2021-02/ipsos-wef-impact_of_race_ethnicity_on_opportunities_-_pr_.pdf
Wahab, E. O., Ajoboye, O., & Olarinmoye, A. (2022). (PDF) race and ethnicity. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360425227_Race_and_ethnicity
Wofford, N., Defever, A. M., & Chopik, W. J. (2019, January). The vicarious effects of discrimination: How partner experiences of discrimination affect individual health. Social psychological and personality science. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326585/
write