The matter in summary A survey from Norstat shows that half of us believe that everyday racism is very or fairly widespread. Researcher Mona Abdel-Fadil believes it is positive that more people accept that racism is a problem, but points out that there are still many who believe that everyday racism is not widespread. Minister for Culture and Equality Lubna Jaffery points out that young people, especially girls and people from minority backgrounds, experience much more harassment and harassment online than the majority population. The right-wing politician Sebastian Henriksen believes that the figures from the survey highlight a major societal problem, and calls for greater diversity in business, politics and sport, particularly in northern Norway. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – The worst thing was that my children saw it, says Frode Følstad (42). He is talking about a racist episode at the Jekta shopping center in Tromsø in 2021, which resulted in a police report and a fine for a man in his 70s. Følstad was shopping with her children, aged 3, 9 and 12, and was going to buy a snack for her daughter. “It’s probably the Norwegian state that covers it?” The comment came from the man ahead of them in line. – I was a bit shocked, but then I replied: “It’s rather the opposite, isn’t it?”. Følstad considered letting it all go, but couldn’t. Frode Følstad experienced little racism growing up in Vadsø, even though there were few who looked like him there. He thinks he’s been lucky. Photo: Ingvild Vik/news He asked the man what he meant by the comment, and was told that he should get back to his home country. – I ask him where it is, and he says Africa, says Følstad, who was adopted from Sri Lanka. – I’ve experienced a few times in my life being slapped, but this was something else. I immediately realized that this man thinks that I have the wrong skin color and that I therefore have nothing to do here. Positive sign On Saturday, news wrote about Parahini Parabaran (19) and her confrontation with prejudice against people with a minority background. A recent survey by Norstat, carried out on behalf of news, shows that half of us believe that everyday racism is very or fairly widespread. The survey was carried out in a nationally representative selection by Norstat on behalf of news. Only two percent say that everyday racism is not widespread at all. It is a positive sign, believes researcher and curator at the Holocaust Center in Oslo Mona Abdel-Fadil. – It shows that more people accept that racism is a problem, she says. In the past, the social debate has been characterized by a denial that racism exists in Norway, says the researcher. She points out that even the older age groups now seem to think that everyday racism is quite widespread. Before, the generation gap was greater. – Affects some people more than others At the same time, 4 out of 10 still believe that everyday racism is not widespread. It is also a high number, points out Abdel-Fadil. – But it is nothing more than expected. Not everyone is concerned with this topic, and thus they may not have knowledge of how widespread racism is either, she says, and adds: – This affects certain parts of the population much more than others. Mona Abdel-Fadil has worked extensively with racism and everyday racism as a researcher and curator at the Holocaust Centre. Photo: Frederik Tellerup She receives support from Ketil Lenert Hansen. He is a professor at UiT – Norway’s Arctic University, and has researched discrimination against the Sami population. Hansen believes that the reason why so many answer that everyday racism is not widespread is that most people in a representative sample will belong to the majority population. – They do not experience everyday racism, and then they may not see it either. Everyday racism is often subtle, and comes in small drops. Ketil Lenert Hansen, professor at UiT, has researched discrimination against the Sami population. Photo: Simen Wingstad/news – What do you think is the difference between racism and everyday racism? – Everyday racism is about the little things that happen in everyday life. It could be a comment, it could be a look, it could be someone saying something nasty to you in passing. The term has previously caused debate, because some believe that it helps to acknowledge the damage that the racism that pervades everyday life can cause. The term has previously caused debate, because some believe that it contributes to denying the racism that permeates everyday life. Abdel-Fadil nevertheless believes that the term is important, precisely because it describes something structural. – The term is intended to describe the structural, that racism cannot be dismissed as isolated incidents at an individual level, but are attitudes and practices that are so widespread in society that it has become a clear pattern, says Abdel-Fadil. Brochure about everyday racism against the Sami. Photo: Simen Wingstad/news Gender difference The researcher believes it is striking that there is such a big difference between the sexes. Just over 6 out of 10 women think everyday racism is very or fairly widespread, while 4 out of 10 men think the same. – There is such a big difference that you can wonder what it really is, she says. The answer may be that women talk to each other more, to process events, and thus also talk more often about experiences they have had. – It can be as simple as that, but it is interesting to try to find out more about why that gender difference exists. Was called poo-coloured The father of Parahini Parabaran (19) is deputy mayor, specialist nurse and lecturer, but is constantly mistaken for a cleaner or taxi driver when he is at work. Now the 19-year-old fights against the racism he encounters. She herself has experienced everyday racism all her life in the form of small comments, both online and in real life. – When I was little, there were children who said that my skin looked like brown cheese and was the color of poo. Now people are questioning whether I, who is not ethnically Norwegian, can hold different positions, says the 19-year-old Oiler, who is head of the youth council in Troms. – It’s the little comments that break you down, she says. Parabaran Rajalingam and his daughter Parahini Parabaran told news their story about racism at the weekend. Photo: Aurora Ytreberg Meløe Parahini believes the findings of the investigation by news are serious. – I think there are many more people who experience this than we realise. This is a culture we must change. We must dare to tell, and stand up for each other. Parahini’s role model, Culture and Equality Minister Lubna Jaffery (Ap), was the subject of the racism that made the cup run over for the 19-year-old. In a post shared by a politician she knows, it was stated that it is not possible to have a Muslim culture minister in a Christian country. It enraged Parahini to read. Parahini Parabaran is a graduating student at Kongsbakken High School. Photo: Simen Wingstad/news – Need to call the youth politicians – I would like to praise Parahini for going out and speaking out. It’s hard work, says Culture and Equality Minister Lubna Jaffery to news. – Most people would probably keep quiet, perhaps block the person who shared it and move on with their lives. The minister himself has experienced racism and everyday racism several times throughout his life. At times she has refrained from talking about it, in order to avoid comments such as: “It was probably not meant like that.” – With such comments, you in many ways make those who experience racism invisible, and then people do not dare to talk about it. Minister for Culture and Equality Lubna Jaffery believes that we must call the youth politicians, so that they are not intimidated from getting involved. Photo: Magnus Thorén / news Jaffery believes that the findings in the news survey show that the population is concerned with racism, and follows the debate. – But then it also points to the fact that there are people out there who experience racism in one form or another. These are quite high numbers, and it is serious. The minister is sure to see more of Parahini in politics in the future. – But that requires that we as adult politicians take care of the young, and it also requires that the whole of society rings the bell about our youth politicians and gives them a safe space to express their opinions. She points out that research shows that young people, especially girls and people from minority backgrounds, experience much more harassment and harassment online than the majority population. – Ultimately, it can be a challenge for democracy. You get a much narrower group of people who dare to get involved, and we don’t want that. When she was young, she lacked role models who looked like herself. Now she herself is a role model for young people. – And then I just have to say that Parahini is a great role model for me too. In January, Parahini got to meet her role model, Minister Lubna Jaffrey, at a meeting with the Kulturtanken in Oslo. Photo: Erik Brandsborg Missing role models In Tromsø, Conservative politician Sebastian Henriksen feels lucky to have experienced little direct racism. But when, as a 15-16-year-old, he appeared in the local newspaper to talk about a new sports hall in his home town, comments appeared on Facebook: – They wrote things like that some foreigners are better liked than others. Henriksen believes that the figures from the survey highlight a major social problem. – It shows that there is too much everyday racism, and that there are many people who see it. Sebastian Henriksen (H) is himself adopted, and has experienced people writing inflammatory comments about him. Photo: Simen Wingstad/news He has missed role models similar to himself in business, politics and sports, especially in northern Norway. – I think it has a lot to say that you see someone who looks like yourself. That is why I am very passionate about greater diversity, especially in Northern Norway. We have a business life, a cultural life, and a political environment that is governed by a few of us, who are very resourceful and very similar. – What are we going to do with it, then? – We must have processes that invite more people in, for example when we are to appoint people to boards. You have to search a bit, and you have to dare to ask other people than those you think it is natural to ask. Sebastian Henriksen (H) is involved in politics, business, culture and sport. He believes we must get better representation in these areas. Photo: Simen Wingstad/news Fearing that the children will experience the same thing, Frode Følstad reported the man who made the comment to him on the shopping trip three years ago. He was later fined NOK 12,000 for discriminatory or hateful speech. Følstad believes that the figures from news’s survey show that everyday racism is a real problem. When he appeared in the media and told about his experience with the man in the 70s, he received many messages from people who had experienced racism. Frode Følstad fears that his children will experience racism because of their skin colour. Photo: Ingvild Vik/news – Are you afraid that your children will have such experiences? – Yes, I am. I have to somehow prepare them for that. – What do you think about having to do it? – It should have been unnecessary. But it is naive to think that this will not happen in 2024. Følstad believes there is hope that the younger generation will behave better towards each other than those who are well grown up today. Photo: Ingvild Vik/news Følstad and the children talked about the experience from the shopping trip when they got home that day. The two-year-old youngest son did not understand what had happened, while the 11-year-old daughter had understood everything. In the evening, the nine-year-old son had a reaction, and was very upset. – We had to talk about it for a while. They are also a bit dark, so this can happen to them.
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Half believe that everyday racism is widespread – news Troms and Finnmark
