Discuss what white fragility and white supremacy are, how the two differ, and how they both relate to racial trauma.
How can implicit bias and microaggressions cause emotional trauma to people from marginalized groups?
Identify some groups of people who have suffered multigenerational historical trauma and discuss why you think it is important to gain understanding.
Discuss how incivility or bullying can disrupt the milieu of the workplace and trigger trauma. How does this impact the workforce?
Although both concepts stem from same root cause – unequal power between different ethnicities – how they manifest themselves can be quite different. For example while white fragility typically appears individual level in form reactions upon being challenged , white supremacy is more institutionalized where policies implemented by governments favor one group over another. This means that while former may result feelings of insecurity among privileged individuals, the latter actively perpetuates racism in long-term basis leading further disparities down the line.
When it comes to relation with racial trauma, many studies have found that experiences like discrimination or microaggressions can lead to lasting damage on mental health if not addressed properly (Feng et al., 2019). Both white fragility and white supremacy play major role here: Not only do these principles contribute towards creating hostile environments for minorities but also make it difficult for them to seek support due to fear of backlash from majority . Ultimately it is important to recognize connections between these concepts in order to fully understand how pervasive forms of oppression impact lives so proper steps are taken to ensure better outcomes all round.
White fragility is a term coined by sociologist Robin DiAngelo to describe the defensive reactions that some white people may have when challenged or questioned about their attitudes and actions relating to race, racism and white privilege. This reaction often serves as an obstacle in conversations and discussions around these topics, further perpetuating systemic issues of inequality.
White supremacy is a system of oppression which privileges whiteness over all other forms of identity, resulting in systematic discrimination against those with non-white identities. This has resulted in a wide range of disparities such as unequal access to education and employment opportunities, economic suffering, physical violence and more. White supremacy also informs how our society views certain concepts such as beauty standards, morality and even what constitutes “normal” behaviour for individuals.
Both white fragility and white supremacy are connected by the idea that racial power dynamics play an integral role in shaping our social systems. In order for long-lasting change to take place it’s essential to understand how both operate within our society so we can be better equipped to challenge them whenever they arise.