Racial profiling
INFORMATION SHEET
A printable PDF version of this information sheet is available.
What is racial profiling?
Racial profiling occurs when an individual is subjected to differential treatment or greater scrutiny because of negative stereotypes related to that person’s race or other grounds such as religious beliefs, colour, ancestry or place of origin or a combination of these. For example, a Muslim may experience racial profiling on the basis of stereotypes about his or her religion. Racial profiling can also involve other factors such as gender and age. For example, a young black man may experience racial profiling on the basis of stereotypes about his age, colour and gender.
Typically, but not always, the reasons given for racial profiling carried out by people in authority are safety, security and public protection.
Racial profiling can occur in any of the following areas:
• publications and notices
• goods, services, accommodation and facilities
• tenancy
• employment practices
• applications and advertising regarding employment
• membership in trade unions, employers’ organizations or occupational associations
Racial profiling and the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act
Racial profiling is not specified as a protected ground in the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act. However, when racial profiling results in discrimination, affected individuals are protected under the Act because discrimination based on race or other protected grounds such as religious belief, colour, ancestry and place of origin is prohibited under the Act. Discrimination based on gender and age is also prohibited under the Act.
Examples of racial profiling that can result in discrimination
Examples include:
• A law enforcement officer stops and searches vehicles driven by young black males more frequently than vehicles driven by other people because of an assumption that young black males are more likely to be engaged in criminal activity.
• A store owner refuses to sell an Aboriginal patron a paint thinner based on stereotypes about Aboriginal people as solvent abusers.
• A youth of South East Asian heritage is refused entry to a bar because of the belief that youth of South East Asian heritage are associated with gangs.
• An employer wants a stricter security clearance for a Muslim employee after September 11th because of assumptions that Muslims are involved in terrorist activity.
Consequences of racial profiling
Being discriminated against as a result of racial profiling is a degrading and humiliating experience and can take an emotional, financial and social toll on the individual and the community. Racial profiling may:
• result in an individual’s loss of dignity and self confidence.
• erode individuals’ confidence in businesses, organizations and institutions. Individuals who are discriminated against as a result of racial profiling lose confidence in the ability of the institutions to serve them in a fair manner.
• disempower individuals. Individuals who are discriminated against as a result of racial profiling may feel that they should not aspire to positions of power or authority in society as they may perceive that they are seen as undesirable by others.
What can you do if you are discriminated against as a result of racial profiling?
Customers, clients, and guests can look for constructive ways to deal with racial profiling when it has led to unfair treatment. Here are some options:
• Take immediate action by seeking out a manager and explaining your human rights issue.
• If taking immediate action is not appropriate or possible, write a detailed description of the human rights issue and make an appointment to speak or meet with a manager as soon as possible.
• Contact the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission to get a free confidential consultation regarding your human rights issue.
• Make a human rights complaint to the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission. If you believe you have experienced discrimination as a result of racial profiling based on your race alone or in combination with other grounds, you can make a complaint to the Commission based on one or more of the grounds of race, religious belief, colour, ancestry and place of origin. In addition to making a complaint based on race or related grounds, you may also report discrimination on other grounds such as age and gender if you believe they are related to your experience of racial profiling.
What can organizations do to prevent racial profiling?
Public and private businesses, organizations and institutions have a responsibility to ensure that they operate without discrimination and that they deal fairly with human rights concerns raised by employees, customers, clients, guests, and members of the public.
For more information
Read the Commission’s interpretive bulletin Human rights in the hospitality industry and information sheet Stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination.
Please note: A complaint must be made to the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission within one year after the alleged incident.
October 2008
Contact the Commission
Due to confidentiality concerns, the Commission cannot reply
to complaints of discrimination using the Internet.
Please contact the Commission by telephone or regular mail
if you have a specific complaint.
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