VISIBLE MINORITIES — Equity and Inclusion Lens
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Diversity Snapshot VISIBLE MINORITIES — Equity and Inclusion Lens Diversity Snapshot VISIBLE MINORITIES We are diverse, and the fastest-growing population sector in Ottawa. One third of us are Canadians by birth and our families have been part of building Ottawa for more than a century. We are grouped together for being nonwhite, but in reality, we are a rich mix of ethnic origins and cultures from as many as 100 different nationalities. 1. Who we are . 3 2. Contributions we make . 4 3. Barriers and inequities. 5 1) Attitudes. 5 2) Stereotypes. 5 3) Denial of racism. 6 4) Income . 6 5) Employment . 7 6) Advancement opportunities. 7 7) Workplace harassment . 7 8) Racial profiling. 8 9) Housing and neighbourhood . 9 10) Civic and political engagement. 9 4. We envision – a racism-free city. 10 What can I do?. 10 5. Council mandates and legislation. 11 6. What’s happening in Ottawa. 11 7. Relevant practices in other cities. 12 8. Sources. 12 9. Definitions. 13 10. Acknowledgements . 15 This document is one of 11 Diversity Snapshots that serve as background information to aid the City of Ottawa and its partners in implementing the Equity and Inclusion Lens. To access, visit Ozone or contact us at [email protected]. A City for Everyone — 2 Diversity Snapshot VISIBLE MINORITIES — Equity and Inclusion Lens 1. Who we are IN OTTAWA We are diverse, and the fastest-growing population sector in Ottawa (SPC 2008-a). Many of us (32.8 per Ottawa has the second cent) are Canadians by birth and our families have been highest proportion of visible part of building Ottawa for over 100 years (SPC 2008-b). minorities in Ontario after More recently, more of us (67.2 per cent) are choosing Toronto (20.2 per cent). to live in Ottawa as new immigrants. As defined byStatistics Canada, “visible minorities” The visible minority population are “persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are is younger and growing at the non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour.” By this rate of four times Ottawa’s definition, we are grouped together simply for being general population. non-white; but in reality, we are a rich mix of ethnic Population breakdown: origins and cultures from as many as 100 different - Black 4.9 per cent nationalities and numerous religions (SPC 2008-b). - Chinese 3.8 per cent For example, one in every four members of visible- - South Asian 3.3 per cent minority communities in Ottawa is Black – however, - Arab 3.0 per cent there is great diversity among us (e.g., a Black person - Other visible minority may be from Canada over many generations, a relative 5.2 per cent newcomer from the Caribbean, Europe, or different countries in Africa). Most importantly, each of us Ottawa is a multi-ethnic city, has a unique personality that makes us who we with 156 ethnic groups and are as an individual. more than 70 languages. In this document, the term “visible minority” is Almost 30 per cent of Ottawa used in keeping with the City of Ottawa Equity and residents speak non-official Diversity Policy. However, there is a debate about the languages. The top five are: use of the term “visible minorities” (See Definitions). Chinese, Arabic, Italian, Some of us prefer to be called people of colour or Spanish and German. racialized, while others prefer more specific language (e.g., Black, Chinese, Somali). The key is to respect Women are predominant in each person’s self-identity and dignity. If you are not visible minority population sure what a person or a specific community prefers (51.4 per cent), particularly to be called, just ask: “How would you like to be in the Filipino (60.5 per cent), addressed?” Japanese (59.6 per cent), Latin American (54.5 per Racial prejudice and racism are a historical reality cent) and Black communities that still persists in Ottawa today among individual (52.5 per cent). attitudes and institutional practices. This limits our ability to fully participate in and contribute to the life in There is greater diversity of our city. We are pleased to join with the City of Ottawa religious affiliations among to prevent racial discrimination and create a racism- the visible-minority population free city. than among the non-visible minorities. (SPC 2008-a; 2008-b) A City for Everyone — 3 Diversity Snapshot VISIBLE MINORITIES — Equity and Inclusion Lens 2. Contributions we make A GROWING WORKFORCE We are important players in Canada’s labour force According to Statistics in the face of the labour shortage. By 2016, we will Canada, one in five contribute 0.5 per cent to Canada’s labour-force Canadians will be a “visible growth ($80.9 billion in value) (Antunes 2004). minority” by 2017. For every We bring unique assets to the workplace through 100 visible minority persons our cultural, linguistic, and racial diversity. This old enough to leave the enables organizations to better understand and labour force...there would be respond to the needs of increasing diverse citizens 142 old enough to join the and customers (Gandz 2001). In Ottawa, we are labour force. The knowledge, employers, entrepreneurs, workers and tax payers. skills, and analysis required Some members of visible-minority communities (for example, Lebanese, Chinese, etc.) have to proactively address achieved significant economic inclusion in Ottawa racism in the workplace (SPC 2008-b). and community will become increasingly important as Many of us are active volunteers in our communities, we become more racially schools and faith groups. We are political leaders at diverse. different levels of government and engaged citizens who strengthen our city every day. We enrich the (Lopes 2006) diversity and vibrancy of Ottawa’s arts, cultural, and music communities – Chinatown Remixed, Carnival of Cultures, CARIBE-EXPO and Lebanorama are just a few examples. We have contributed to the building of Ottawa’s infrastructure and institutions, and we look forward to building our city’s future. A City for Everyone — 4 Diversity Snapshot VISIBLE MINORITIES — Equity and Inclusion Lens 3. Barriers and inequities Everyone has prejudices. We learn Racial discrimination is a major barrier for visible minorities. It “ them from parents, is present in individual attitudes and behaviours such as in inter- friends, media and personal relations. It is also present in how society is organized, including the norms and assumptions that underpin institutional pop culture. However, practices or the way we do business. This results in advantages it does no good for for those who are considered “white” and inequities for those society if we spread who are considered to be the “other” or “non-white”. these prejudices while at the same 1) Attitudes time denying their Consciously or unconsciously, people are socialized to perceive existence. certain physical and social characteristics (e.g., skin tone, hair (Jeske 2009)” texture, cultural habits, dress, language, accents, as well as religions, political beliefs and surnames) as a sign of racial differences, and what is desirable and undesirable (Lopes 2006). As a result, people may think, say or do things that have a negative effect on visible minorities, even when they did not mean to do so. For example, making assumptions about women who wear a hijab or niqab that get in the way of seeing a particular woman for who she really is. Such attitudes are also embedded in institutional and organizational assumptions and practices. For example, assuming a particular group does not need a service or that it is not worthwhile to advertise a job posting in a specific community. When we catch ourselves making unconscious negative assumptions and work to unlearn them, we are taking a positive step to end racism. When we check for assumptions that are embedded in institutional practices, we are contributing to a racism free institution, workplace and community. 2) Stereotypes While it can be helpful to distinguish characteristics of specific groups of people in order to know how best to work with them, assuming that all people in a given group are the same is stereotyping (e.g., “Black people are…”; “Chinese students are…”; “Muslim men are…”; “Latina women are…”). Such stereotypes ignore the diversity within a group of people and can perpetuate false assumptions. For example, many visible minorities are often seen as recent immigrants – even if they were born and raised in Canada, or have lived here for many decades. This makes visible minorities “feel like outsiders in our own country” (SPC 2009), and negatively affects their sense of belonging. Stereotypes also work to keep groups out of professions, work teams, neighbourhoods, and services. In Canada, stereotypes have contributed to policies and practices that limited the immigration of Chinese, Jews and Blacks; as well as the cultural assimilation of Aboriginal people. This history still shapes our institutions today. By looking beyond a racial stereotype to see the individual for who he or she is, staff can better serve clients and create a welcoming workplace. As we check for institutional practices based on stereotypes, we begin to create inclusive workplaces and services. A City for Everyone — 5 Diversity Snapshot VISIBLE MINORITIES — Equity and Inclusion Lens 3) Denial of racism For people who don’t experience racism in their everyday Risk of lives, its effects are difficult to see. When a person is poverty in Ottawa: white, they often do not realize the privilege they have, simply because they have not had the experience of being Visible minorities in Ottawa a person of colour. (For example, not having to worry are more likely to hold a whether I will be accepted or welcomed based on my university degree than non- race.) (McIntosh 1988).