Section 3
Why use peer group education
for the campaign "all different - all equal"?
10 Points on why to use peer group education
in a campaign against racism and intolerance
1. Peer group education fights racism,
xenophobia, anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance
by means familiar to youth
Racial prejudice is strongly connected
to group identity and group behaviour. It has much to do
with how the individual perceives himself or herself as
a member of a distinctive social and ethnic group in relation
to other groups. At the same time, adolescence is a crucial
moment in life development , a time when individual identity
is formed. The loosening of family ties can give way to
various options of group identity. Ethnicity as a clearly
distinctive identity may become extremely important in this
phase of life.
Peer group education takes its strength
from unfolding the leadership potential of individual young
people in the and relies on in-group values of youth. It
transmits its message through these channels which play
an important part in adolescence.
2. Each young person knows discrimination
from his or her own experience
Racism and xenophobia is - amongst
other things - a reflection of power structures: the powerful
discriminate against the powerless.
The same can be said for 'adultism'. By
this term we describe the system prevailing in most modern
societies which gives more status and respect to acts and
opinions of adults as compared to the acts and decisions
of the youth. Children and youngsters generally are told
and taught that they have to wait until adulthood to be
fully respected. Since young people have much less power
than adults do, they are discriminated against. Thus, young
people all know somehow what discrimination feels like.
Not being taken seriously, having their legitimate wishes
denied because you are a child actually is everyone's first
experience of discrimination in our society (for further
reference see: Miller, 1979; van den Broeck, 1993; Jungk/Muellert
1989).
Later in life young people form peer groups and gain strength
through this new group identity. Strong peer groups and
strong peer group behaviour is an answer to the power gap
between young people and adults.
In the power struggle among - socially or ethnically -
different groups of young people, peer groups and their
values play an important role. If racist, xenophobic or
anti-semitic ideas and intolerant behaviour prevail peer
groups can form a vehicle for these ideas (in-group against
out-groups). It is especially important to break these patterns
and to substitute them with non-racist values and attitudes
and the ability to welcome diversity. Peer group education
would seem the system-inherent educational means for that.
3. Peer group education can create empowerment
and a pride in leadership
Racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and intolerance
in general have their source in feelings of powerlessness
and suffered mistreatment. 'Human beings have to be mistreated
systematically before they will mistreat others' (National
Coalition Building Institute, 1992).
Ultra-nationalist and racist, anti-semitic and xenophobic
movements come in right here by manipulating the feelings
of inferiority resulting from such mistreatment. They offer
a seemingly superior identity based on violence and the
oppression of others.
Peer group education empowers young people to take action
and form leadership. It gives pride to what young people
can achieve. These positive feelings make it easier to look
at past 'hurts' sources of mistreatment.
4. Shared feelings open the way to welcoming
diversity
Discrimination represents a form of group
oppression. Groups of human beings are labelled as "dirty",
"useless", "dangerous", "greedy"
, "violent" - without considering the character
of individual members of a certain group. The victim, however,
is hurt as a single 'individual' and suffers from the discrimination
'individually'. The pain of discrimination is expressed
in shame and often enough, is turned into violent rage which
aims at covering the shame.
By sharing experiences of mistreatment
and the sorrow about it amongst peers, the shame can be
shared and will eventually fade away. Individual identity
and group identity are both strengthened through solidarity.
A feeling of positive pride in one's own
identity arises and can free the way to accept the other
one's pride in his or her own and different identity. Understanding
oneself leads to understanding others. Diversity can therefore
become a positive value in life.
"Black and white youth share common
experiences and problems, like unemployment, schooling or
homelessness. Instead of alliances there are often divisions
and scapegoating. The attempt to discover racial and ethnic
themes within the fabric of local urban life promises to
be a slow and hesitant process but one which offers the
possibility of creating alliances."
(Ritchie/Marken, 1986, page 17).
5. Peer group education against racism,
xenophobia and anti-Semitism substitutes old group values
by new ones
Racist and intolerant behaviour often forms a contagious
behavioural pattern within a group of youth - and the same
is valid of other forms of oppression such as sexism, discrimination
against people with disabilities etc. Nobody in the group
dares speak out and stand up against a racist group leader
or a racist group. Thus the climate is slowly poisoned.
Peer group leaders create new role models which can set
new values for the group and positive standards which can
also become attractive for other groups members as well.
6. Peer group education against racism,
xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance can create a snowball
effect among a wider group
Racism and other forms of intolerance
easily have a contagious effect on a group environment and
can poison the atmosphere. Successful and attractive experiences
of peer group education programmes, are soon shared with
others in the group and can form a counter-movement. Successful
action can also win over any adults who first may have been
reluctant to join in.
7. Peer group education against racism,
xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance keeps ideals alive
Young people who have had the chance to grow up
without suffering heavy mistreatment can be full of idealism
and love for the world and for human beings of all kinds.
They have not yet been ultimately conditioned by greed,
competition and chauvinism which is inherent in our social
system. Their intuition tells them when wrong is done and
when discrimination is happening.
Peer group action against racism presents a chance which
enables young people not to loose these ideals but rather
to recognize them as a common bond for changing the world.
An "adultist" attitude (see above under 2.) would
tell them that they will soon have to give up their ideals
and adapt to the "realities of life". Peer group
action against racism tells them that they are right in
their perception of the world as it could be and empowers
them to make ideals become true.
This empowerment can have an impact on other aspects of
their lives which are not necessarily directly connected
to the original issue.
8. Success motivates and leads to further
successful action
Positive individual and group experiences
and successful leadership give courage to go further. If
a peer group could solve a minor racial dispute, in the
youth club for example, through a common effort and peer
group trained skills, this can create a positive impetus.
Peer group education gives opportunities
for learning and training skills through organizing an anti-racist
event, writing letters to the newspaper, speaking in public,
leading a workshop etc. By passing on training skills, to
deal with on smaller racist incidents capabilities will
grow to handle more difficult problems such as inter-group
conflicts, or violence. Group dynamics among the peers are
of much importance. Team building can help to change whole
institutions in a slow but on-going process. It might lead
from a first crisis intervention to crisis prevention by
changing attitudes and the general atmosphere within the
peer group and the institution involved.
9. Self-confident youth challenge the
adults' world
Racist and xenophobic attitudes
and disparities in the treatment of ethnic, religious or
sexual minority groups might form a part of the structure
of the school or youth organization that wants to launch
a peer group education project against racism.
The reluctance of institutions to a) generally
start anti-racist programs and b) start a peer education
programme, may be encountered. Underlying fears to make
necessary institutional changes, and the question of authority
are often cited as reasons. By freeing creative forces in
young people, peer group programmes against racism can challenge
certain racist attitudes, the power structures and ethnic
disparities within the system. It is young people's enthusiasm
and the obvious turn for the better which can break through
these institutional barriers.
"Establishing anti-racist work will
depend to some extent on how far youth work is prepared
to suffer the discomfort of recognizing both its own racism
and its failure to develop a significant response to racism
of its white clients."
(Ritchie/Marken, 1986, page 7).
10. Peer group education can change the
home environment of youth
Youth engaged in peer group programmes
against racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance
will come home with new ideas of how the world could be.
They will probably confront their parents with these values,
or let them know about their new contacts with ethnically
different groups. This could stir some tension but can ultimately
lead to a shift in attitudes in their family. When parents
see that their children are happier and more fulfilled they
may let go some of their own prejudicial ideas. The snowball
effect can incite new anti-racist activities in the home
environment or neighbourhood.
You may wish to investigate the wider discussion
on Discrimination and Xenophobia contained in Compass, for
more reasons and thematic areas for using peer education.
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