Anti-Racism week

This week, we are highlighting how everyone can contribute to a safe society.

No one should feel unsafe or excluded. Actively working to combat racism is incredibly important. The Red Cross highlights exactly how harmful small comments and passive behaviour can be in the article ‘Racism affects a person’s entire life’. If you are constantly treated differently, it has a negative impact on both your physical and mental health. Repeated exposure to racist comments and differential treatment increases an individual’s susceptibility to stress, also known as minority stress.

But what can we do to combat racism? It is a huge task, but one that can be solved if we all take responsibility. It may feel like a daunting task to stand up against racism, even though it requires very little of you. Speak out, show your support and show compassion to the person being subjected to racism. An action or comment that you perceive as very small and insignificant can affect another person’s entire life, for better or for worse. Think twice if you mean well with your comment about someone’s language skills, or whether there is hidden racism behind it. Would you take this as a compliment in that situation?

Be aware of your thought processes; what prejudices do you hold? Be extra vigilant. We automatically form thoughts about ‘us’ and ‘them’. We might assume that people have certain characteristics based on their appearance; recognise this thought so that it does not dictate your behaviour. You may not even realise that racist behaviour can mean you automatically start speaking English to specific groups of people because of your own prejudices. Read up on the subject, dare to ask questions, dare to speak out, and remember the most important thing of all: treat everyone with respect and consideration. It costs you absolutely nothing to treat someone with respect.

Have the courage to be a positive role model. Without action, there is no change. If one person takes the initiative, others will find the courage to follow.

Speak up when a joke or comment in poor taste is made by those around you. There is no justifiable reason to accept such behaviour; dare to address it. One’s responsibility to stand up against racism is never-ending and does not exist only in specific situations. It is a constant struggle. A rule of thumb that I try to live by is, “If you can’t change it in a minute, don’t comment on it.”

An example is: comment if someone has food stuck between their teeth, but don’t comment on someone’s hair colour. Have the courage to stand up for those who don’t dare or can’t do so.

If you’d like to read more about what you can do to combat racism, go and read what the Red Cross has published.

• How to speak up against racism – Finnish Red Cross 
• Identify and Act navigator for young people 
• What to do if you encounter open racism – Finnish Red Cross 
• Finnish Red Cross survey: Majority of people living in Finland feel that racism undermines the safety of society – Finnish Red Cross 

Lina Kronström
Member of the Board
The Student Union of ÅAU