'They're more than animals': Refugees' accounts of racially motivated violence. (22nd October 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kirkwood, Steve; McKinlay, Andy; McVittie, Chris
• Is Part Of: British journal of social psychology. Volume 52:Part 4(2013:Dec.)
• Page Start: 747
• Page End: 762
• Publication Date: 2012-10-22
• Subjects: Social psychology -- Periodicals; 302.05
• DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-6665

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="bjso12007-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Previous discursive research has found that minority group members may deny or downplay the existence of discrimination. However, to date, little research has addressed the issue of violence against minority group members. This study therefore draws on interviews with asylum seekers and refugees in a Scottish city to analyse their reports of violence committed against them. One form of reporting violence was by way of a complaint available to any speaker, in making no reference to attributes of attackers or victim. When racism was alleged, it was presented as a tentative, reluctant or 'last resort' explanation. The descriptions offered by interviewees reflected the contributions made by the interviewer, highlighting the ways in which these reports are interactional co‐productions. The results suggest that accounts from victims of seemingly racially motivated violence may function in similar ways to 'new racism' in making racism seem to 'disappear'. These findings point to the potential difficulties that arise in identifying and looking to challenge instances of 'new racism'.</p> </abstract>