Tackling Racism Through the Social-Ecological Model: Insights for Public Health

Research Paper – Pt. II: Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health Student’s Name Institution Affiliation Course Number Instructor’s Name Due Date Social Ecological Model (SEM) The social-ecological model is a public health framework used to address the various complexities in health. This model showcases the relationship between an individual, the community, interpersonal, organization, and society. The SME promotes the understanding of the multifaceted factors that contribute to racism with an aim to eliminate racism and promote an equitable society strategically on racism and anti-racism (A Social-Ecological Model of Racism & Anti-Racism, n.d.) The following provides an overview of the different levels of the Social Ecological Model addressing the negative and positive aspects of racism among ethnical minorities. Starting with the positive factors, at the individual level the SEM addresses antiracism through personal reflection of racialized ideologies. Ethnical Minorities must understand that racism is conceptualized by their personal experiences and has shaped their racial socialization and identities. This involves identifying the history of a personal history of racism and the likelihood of being a victim or perpetrator of racism. At the interpersonal level, the model proposes appreciation of other people's identities, their experiences, and perspectives. Racists used intriguing language with racist statements without knowing they had hurt their surroundings. Other ethnicities especially black and African Americans are subjected to stereotypes of evil deeds by the whites. Avoiding these presumptions about other ethnicities is a step towards improving interpersonal relationships. Apologizing and making reparations for harm caused is a step towards antiracism. At the community level, the community and institutions should formulate and uphold policies, procedures, and practices that are non-discriminatory and foster equity in opportunities, privilege, resource allocation, and power. At the societal level, the social-ecological model proposes ideologies, norms, values, laws, and beliefs that are antiracists. This involves the value of humanity and protecting the fundamental rights of all individuals without bias. Society ought to channel its resources to ethnical minorities who have faced the adversity of racism. It should also acknowledge the root cause of racism and provide adequate and viable solutions through leadership and equity. The negative factors of the SEM that negatively impact racial equity in ethnical minorities at the Individual Level include Internalized Racism. Ethnic minorities have been stereotyped with diffe