Xenophobia: Definition, Risk Factors And Prevention
Xenophobia, or xenophobia, sounds like a strong word. When used by the media, they usually refer to serious cases of relatively organized groups of people who have committed a crime against a person of another ethnicity or nationality. But that’s not all xenophobia is.
We rarely talk about the situations that happen every day around the world. We rarely talk about the little thoughts and ideas that go through many people’s minds. For example, is it xenophobic to think that someone is a bad worker based on the country of origin? Let’s reflect on that.
What is xenophobia?
Xenophobia is not just physical aggression against someone because of their nationality – although it is an extreme form of xenophobia that can obviously cause a lot of harm to the victim and society in general. In reality, it is much more than that.
The core of xenophobia is the social exclusion of an individual based on country of origin, which is usually different from that of the aggressor. The exclusion can take the form of direct behavior, including refusing to rent out an apartment to someone because of their nationality or skin color.
But it also includes attitudes and beliefs that lead to stereotypes and generalizations about other people, such as thinking that a certain nationality is stingy, or people of another nationality are problem creators. The truth is that even when you are not violent, you can still express xenophobia through your thoughts and attitudes of fear and rejection.
What risk factors lead to xenophobia?
If we are such an advanced society, why is xenophobia so prevalent? The current state of uncertainty that we are constantly living under is a contributing factor. For example, there have been terrorist attacks in the vicinity, committed by people from different countries. When there is a common factor linking these attacks, it triggers xenophobia against that nationality.
These events have put us on constant guard, anxious and scared, prepared to fight or flee. Being in a constant state of anxiety means that we will find someone to blame for how we feel. And who do we owe it to? People who are different from us.
So we tend to distance ourselves from these people, whether it means isolating them or isolating ourselves. The lack of direct contact with other cultures makes it impossible for us to challenge and thus break down the unfounded ideas about how dangerous we think they are. Therefore, distance is another important risk factor for the development of xenophobia.
How can we prevent xenophobia?
The first step towards preventing xenophobia is to talk to people from other countries and get to know other cultures. This will help us empathize with them and understand that they are not that different from us, and that (of course) most of them are not potential terrorists who want to ruin our lives. It will also make us more sensitive to their stories and the challenges they face as a society.
We do not often stop to think about what it is like for someone to leave their country and risk their whole life. If they had a good time in their home country, they probably would not have embarked on such a difficult journey, where they have to sacrifice being at home with their families for an adventure that feels more dangerous than exciting. No matter what they do, both they and their loved ones are in danger, because staying where they are often means certain death.
To prevent xenophobia, government institutions must implement truly effective integration programs. Programs where average citizens can really get to know people who come from other countries. And professionals to mediate in any conflicts that may arise.
Finally, it is important to spread truthful messages about people of different nationalities, without a hidden political agenda that fuels fear and hatred.
Photos courtesy of William Stitt, Eddy Lackmann and Vlad Tchompalov.
