7.6 Attitudinal Problems--Racism数字时代的商务英语写作.pdf

Intercultural CommunicationBarriers Intercultural CommunicationBarriers 7.6AttitudinalProblems--Racism In this lesson, we will talk about the last attitudinal problem — Racism. Racism refers to any policy, practice, belief, or attitude that attributes characteristics or status to individuals based on their race. It goes further than a specific kind of prejudice, for it also involves the exercise of power. Racism exists worldwide. In some Western countries, race is seen as a continuum rather than mutually exclusive categories. Racism appears in songs, insults and malicious humor, employment ads writtentodiscouragenon-Whiteapplicants. At the culture level, racism denies the existence of the culture of a particular group;for example,the denialthatAfricanAmericansrepresent a unique and distinct culture that is separate from European American culture and all African cultures. Cultural racism also involves the rejection by one group of the beliefs and values of another, such as the “negativeevaluationsbywhitesofblack culturalvalues.” 严明大学英语跨文化交际教程 北京：清华大学出版社 （ . [M]. , 2009:116-117. ） So far we have learned that ethnocentrism, stereotyping, prejudice and racism hinder or evenjeopardize intercultural interactions. But what causes the persistence of these attitudinal problems? There are various reasons.Andwe’llhavealook atthewidely acknowledgedreasons: First,Socialization Ethnocentrism, stereotyping,prejudice andracism are learned,many of which are passed on from parents to children, sometimes in subtle messages such aswe don’t associate with people like thator “be careful whenyou arewiththem”. Second,SocialBenefits Expressing ethnocentrism, stereotyping, prejudice and racism may bring support from otherswho share them.For example, it is difficult for peopletobreak away from theprejudices oftheir families and friends, as rejecting the pre