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SOC 3100 –Practicum in Criminological / sociological research. “ The Treatment of Racialized Peoples in Canada” ELIZABETH SHIN. Introduction. The focus of my practicum was the topic of racism and its influence on the treatment of racialized peoples in Canada.
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SOC 3100 –Practicum in Criminological / sociological research “The Treatment of Racialized Peoples in Canada” ELIZABETH SHIN
Introduction • The focus of my practicum was the topic of racism and its influence on the treatment of racialized peoples in Canada. • Specifically, I looked at exemplar cases of “Driving While Black” (DWB) and “Flying While Arab” (FWA).
Introduction • Why is this sociologically relevant? • Has potential to dispel or challenge certain myths • Lead to a more open-minded or informed politics • Why is the issue of racial profiling a problem? • Because Canada is a multicultural nation
Literature Review • Critical Race Theory • Argues that racism is the main factor that obstructs racialized people from achieving equality (Degaldo, 1987; Alyward, 1999) • Structure of society • Racism core role • “Colour-blind” approach
Literature Review cont’d… • Themes Found in Research: • Research uncovered racialized inequalities in the Canadian criminal justice system • Process of criminalization - Way we label or identify immigrants • Post 9/11
Research Question • To what extent is racism in the criminal justice system associated with the phenomenon of “Driving While Black” (DWB) and “Flying While Arab” (FWA)?
Method • Content Analysis • Secondary data collection and analysis – within last 5-10 years • News articles of cases • Scholarly research • Examined 4 cases (2-DWB & 2-FWA) • DWB – Kingston and Wilson • FWA – Arar and Toronto Four
Findings • “Driving While Black” (DWB) • Kingston Case (2001) • “Flying While Arab” (FWA) • Arar Case (2003)
Findings cont’d… • Findings from this research help us understand the nature of the connection between immigration and crime by dispelling certain myths and bringing this nexus more in line with the reality of minority or immigrant conflict with the law. • “Once an immigrant, always an immigrant” • I conclude that there is no clear-cut line indicating the specific extent of racism and its influence on various outcomes within criminal justice.
Concluding Remarks/Unanswered Questions • Development of a formal policy because research shows us that people are policed differently according to individuals’ ethno-cultural backgrounds • Need to ensure that practice of racial profiling is eliminated – because it exists, is discussed, and it violates the human rights code and Charter (both of which outlaw discrimination on the basis of ethno-cultural background)
Next Steps: • Build body of evidence that includes data about the ethno-cultural background of those in conflict with the law • Draws on the perspectives from both victims of racialized policing & officers making arrests
Acknowledgements • University of Manitoba • Faculty of Arts • Department of Sociology • Professor Lori Wilkinson • Professor Mary-Anne Kandrack • Class of SOC 3100
END. THANK YOU!