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Racialized people can be perceived differently. This is often because of their appearance, country of origin, ethnicity or race. In Canada, this mainly concerns non-white people. People created the idea of race, it is not a biological fact. They wanted to put people into different groups to create a hierarchy. In this hierarchy, some groups are thought to be better than others. When we use the word “racialized” in “racialized minorities,” this word refers to racism. Racialized groups experience racism as a result of being lower in this hierarchy. The terms “people of color” or BIPOC (an acronym formed from the first letters of the words Black, Indigenous and People of Color in English) are also used. Racialized people are often treated poorly by others.
(This article is a plain-language summary about racialized minorities in Canada. If you are interested in reading about this topic in more depth, please see our full-length entry Racialized Minorities).
Racialization Process
Some people in society perceive other humans as different and inferior because of their skin color, origin, religion or language. This way of thinking creates a hierarchy in which certain races have an advantage over others. This is known as “racialization.” Racialization is linked to systemic racism, where racialized people are victims of a system that treats them negatively.
Visible minority or racialized minority?
Some people use the terms “racialized minority” and “visible minority” interchangeably. However, these terms do not mean the same thing. The government uses the term “visible minority” to produce statistics - i.e., figures to better understand society. Unlike “racialized minority”, “visible minority” does not include Indigenous people.
Effects of Racialization
Racialization has a concrete effect on people’s lives. Racialized people are affected by racism, making their lives more difficult. For example, it can be more difficult for them to find work.
Visible minorities and Indigenous people often make less money than non-racialized people. The income gap is especially large for Indigenous people who live on a reserve and make much less money than non-Indigenous people.
Criticized Term
The expression "racialized minority" has been criticized. Some people use it to speak out against systemic racism, while others think that identifying someone as a “racialized person” puts too much emphasis on being victimized. Some critics even go as far as to say that this approach limits debate by imposing political correctness ― meaning, the desire to not avoid offending.
On the contrary, others believe that the term “racialized” serves to fuel the debate, and that it is temporary. It exists because of racism and will disappear when racism no longer exists.
