How does discrimination affect children

The value of realizing the potential contributions of so many people around the world who are impaired by—or die from—preventable chronic illnesses is enormous, and the human costs are incalculable. Advances in science are presenting an increasingly clear picture of how significant adversity in the lives of young children can disrupt the development of the brain and other biological systems.

And, while they may be invisible to those who do not experience them, there is no doubt that both systemic racism and interpersonal discrimination can lead to chronic stress activation that imposes significant hardships on families raising young children.

There is much more to say, but by starting with a shared understanding, we can work together toward creative strategies to address these long-standing inequities. Forde, A. The weathering hypothesis as an explanation for racial disparities in health: a systematic review.

Annals of Epidemiology, 33, Geronimus, A. American Journal of Public Health, 96 5 , McEwen, B. Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators. New England Journal of Medicine, 3 , Williams, D. JAMA 6 : Race, socioeconomic status and health: Complexities, ongoing challenges and research opportunities. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, , Panel 4 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Rockville, MD. No search results found.

What is covered? What is discrimination? Discrimination When children and young people are treated unfairly and discriminated against because of who they are, this can have a detrimental effect on their mental health, their self-esteem, and their educational performance.

Under the Equality Act , it is unlawful if an education provider, such as a school, treats you unfairly because of: disability gender reassignment marriage and civil partnership pregnancy and maternity race religion or belief sex sexual orientation.

It is not unlawful for schools to discriminate against you because of your age. Direct and indirect discrimination Direct discrimination is when a child or young person is treated differently at school or in their community because of one, or more, of the above characteristics. Indirect discrimination is when a child or young person is treated in the same way as other pupils, but it has an adverse effect on that child because of who they are.

So, for example, if a school policy is applied in the same way to everyone but, as a result, puts a disabled pupil at a disadvantage. Risk to mental health Being discriminated against is a risk factor for poor mental health.

Racial and religious discrimination Children can experience discrimination due to their ethnicity, as well as their faith, beliefs, culture or language — whether perceived or real. Read more. What schools and further education settings can do Children and young people need to learn in a safe, caring and respectful environment which embraces and conveys positive messages about their identity, diversity, and faith.

This feeling of belonging is important to their wellbeing, and to their academic achievement. Schools and settings can start developing tolerance early in all pupils by using health and wellbeing lessons, as well as other cross-curricular activity, to help children and young people: learn about diversity and cultures including different faiths develop good relationships, and understand the importance of respecting others develop their social and emotional skills through collaborating and learning about empathy.

Schools and settings could also use time dedicated in staff meetings to help staff: Think about the whole - school approach to mental health and wellbeing — perhaps using the 5 Steps to Mental Health and Wellbeing framework Think about their school ethos, including anti-discriminatory policies, procedures, Equality Difference and Inclusion EDI steering groups and staff training. Other things schools and colleges can do include: Make sure classroom settings and lesson plans are inclusive School and classroom posters, pictures, books, music, toys, and other materials should be diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, faith, gender, age, family situations, and disabilities.

Implement policies and offer staff training Among school staff, there needs to be a culture of reflection and of challenging behaviour, language and attitudes. Training is important along with good links with neighbourhood organisations to support children and young people from all types of communities. Preparing for the holidays? Racism hurts children, in real and fundamental ways. It hurts not just their health, but their chances for a good, successful life. It is a call to action for all of us.

If we care about the health and future of all of our children, it says, we need to take real steps to end racism — and to help and support those who are affected by it. Racism informs our actions when we structure opportunities for and assign value to people based on our interpretation of how they look. Biologically we are truly just one race, sharing But historically we have found ways to not just identify differences, but to oppress people because of them.

Racism grew out of and helped rationalize colonization and slavery. Despite our biological sameness, people continue to look for differences — and claim superiority. While we have made historical progress, the beliefs and oppression that underpin racism persist; it is, as the AAP statement calls it, a "socially transmitted disease. And it truly is a disease.

Racism and its effects can lead to chronic stress for children. And chronic stress leads to actual changes in hormones that cause inflammation in the body, a marker of chronic disease. Stress that a mother experiences during pregnancy can affect children even before they are born. Despite improvements in health care, racial disparities exist in infant mortality as well as low birthweight. Children raised in African American, Hispanic, and American Indian populations are more likely to live in homes with higher unemployment and lower incomes than white children.

This means that they are less likely to have good housing, good nutrition, good access to health care, and access to good education.

Such disparities increase their risk of health problems and of receiving less, and lower-quality, education. Even when minority children live in wealthier areas, research shows that they are often treated differently by teachers. They are more likely to be harshly punished for minor infractions, less likely to be identified as needing special education, and teachers may underestimate their abilities. This is important not just in terms of economic opportunity but also in terms of health: adults with a college degree live longer and have lower rates of chronic disease than those who did not graduate from college.

The juvenile justice system is another place where racism plays out. Minority youth are more likely to be incarcerated, with all the health and emotional consequences this brings, both during incarceration and after. Being incarcerated forever changes a person — and changes how others see them. Differences in sex, religion, sexual orientation, and immigration status can lead to discrimination, as can having a disability. The policy statement reminds us that children are being hurt every day by racism and discrimination, and the effects can be not only permanent but continue through generations.

There is real urgency to this. Fixing racism and discrimination is obviously not easy and cannot be quick. But there are things we can all do immediately.