You may often hear terms like “racist,” “discriminatory” and “antisemitic,” but what do these words really mean? Understanding these terms can help you engage in more meaningful conversations about hate and discrimination.
Organizations, human rights groups, and victims of hate and racism may interpret these terms differently. You are encouraged to conduct further research to learn more about the history, actions, and different understandings of words as part of your learning journey.
Definitions
Racism
The subconscious and conscious beliefs, biases, and feelings a person has that affects how they interact with and perceive others. Racism can range from biases and microaggressions to slurs, physical violence, and attacks.
Racism can come in many forms but often stems from myths, false stereotypes, and a lack of education.
All forms of racism involve assigning or taking away privilege, access, or value based on someone’s race or ethnicity. Racism is often used to categorize or separate people into groups, which can result in exclusion, physical and emotional harm, or dehumanization, and has been a tool to influence public and foreign policy and specific agendas.
Racism is more than a harmful act. It can impact people’s health, safety, ability to work, play, live, and even exist in society. It can also be subtle and, at times, inadvertent. Recognizing racism can be difficult, but it’s important to approach it with an open mind, acknowledging your biases, prejudices, and mistakes, and commit to educating yourself and asking questions.
You can find a detailed overview of racism on the Canadian Human Rights Commission website. You can also view the video below created by RISE for more information related to racism, including interpersonal racism and systemic racism.
Systemic/structural racism
The implicit or explicit rules, regulations, policies, practices, procedures, or laws that limit certain groups’ equal access to services opportunities, or spaces because of their race. The words systemic and structural are often used interchangeably and mean the same thing.
Systemic racism is about the systems in Canada that allow people of European origin to maintain power by excluding other racial groups. These systems include things like healthcare, education, employment, child welfare, our judicial system, and much more.
Even though the impacts of systemic racism are clear, it can be difficult to see systemic racism because it's so interwoven in our culture. The Honourable Murray Sinclair, lawyer and former member of the Canadian Senate, explains the term by stating "systemic racism is the racism that's left over after you get rid of the racists." An article written by Takwa Souissi for the Canadian Encyclopedia provides valuable insights into understanding systemic racism in Canada.
The following image of an iceberg illustrates some of the less visible aspects of systemic racism below the water's surface.
Discrimination
Discrimination has been defined as the differential treatment of people based on race, religion, caste, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and socioeconomic status with the intention of inflicting harm. The harm might be violent or physical, but it can also involve restricting access to resources, jobs, and a fair quality of life. A detailed explanation of discrimination and the varied forms it takes can be found on the Canadian Human Rights Commission website.
Pyramid of hate
This image depicts the "pyramid of hate," illustrating the various levels of actions and behaviors stemming from prejudice and bias. It clearly shows how hate can escalate into violence and highlights that seemingly "harmless" jokes, words, or attitudes can grow into more harmful behaviors. It is important to recognize how individuals can contribute to these behaviours, which can evolve into structural and institutional issues.
Graphic sourced from the Anti-Defemation League.
Ableism
According to the Ontario Human Rights commission, Ableism refers to attitudes in society that devalue and limit the potential of persons with disabilities. Ableism refers to the prejudices, beliefs, and harmful attitudes or behaviours directed toward people with disabilities, often based on the belief that enabled individuals are superior.
This type of hate manifests in two ways. On an individual level, hate and intolerance lead to harassment, harmful language, slurs, and violence. On a systemic level, Ableism creates cultural and social barriers, resulting in unequal access to employment, public and private spaces, and barriers to inclusion and meaningful participation in society.
Ableism stems from a lack of education, stereotypes, and implicit biases about individuals with different physical, mental, or intellectual disabilities. This definition includes not only those with physical or mental impairments but also those with severe or chronic illnesses, cognitive challenges, and sensory or emotional challenges.
You can find a foundational explanation of Ableism on the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s website.
2SLGBTQIA+ hate
Among the various communities, this type of hate stems from an aversion, opposition, hatred, or intolerance of the specific identity.
Historically, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals have experienced both verbal and physical acts of violence, as well as removal from mass media, and limited from equal participation in society on a legal and structural level, including things like healthcare access, and through exclusionary laws and regulations. This includes discrimination, assault, exclusion, and harassment.
These communities often face micro-aggressions, slurs, or inappropriate slang and harmful words. There are many misconceptions about these communities, each of which has unique understandings and ways of expressing their identity.
Information from this section was souced from YMCA and the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health.
Hate crimes
The Government of Canada’s Department of Justice examines the challenges in establishing a single, universally-accepted definition of the term hate crime. Across various police departments in Canada, a hate crime is generally defined as a criminal offence against people or property motivated by the perpetrator’s biases against a specific religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Combatting hate crimes
- What is hate crime?: A short video summarizing what constitutes a hate crime, developed by Facing Facts.
- Hate Crimes and Incidents in Canada: Document compiled by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police containing facts, trends, and information on hate crimes in Canada.
- Disproportionate Harm: Hate Crime in Canada: An informational resource developed by the Government of Canada’s Department of Justice that analyzes the broad definition of Hate Crime and critiques official statistics.
- 2023 London Hate Crime Report: The 2023 London Police Hate/Bias Motivated Crime Report: An analysis of hate crimes reported within London, Ontario. It outlines statistical trends, highlights specific incidents, and discusses the types of hate crimes identified, such as those based on race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Additional resources
Words matter. This section is dedicated to helping you learn more about definitions, terms, and vocabulary to better understand different equity-denied groups. Being mindful of the words we use about or for different people is part of being an ally. It’s crucial to address people with respect, care, and acceptance to avoid causing harm.
- Language Matters When Talking Disability: An inclusive language guide developed by UFCW Canada for discussing disability-related issues.
- Glossary of IDEA terms: A reference tool for inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility terminology developed by the Canadian Centre of Diversity and Inclusion.
- The 519 Glossary of Terms: A glossary of terminology developed by The 519 related to inclusion, equity, and diversity.
- My Kid Came Out to Me! What Now?: A glossary of gender-related terms and information related to using correct pronouns developed by Fairy Godparents London and Area.
- Key Concepts in Ableism and Accessibility: A module on Ableism put together by Toronto Metropolitan University. The module uses 6 models of disability to analyze the interrelation of disabled people with their environment and non-disabled folks.