HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION | A FAIR GO FOR A L L ? While individual level racism affects a modest number of individuals, a racist institutional policy can systematically disadvantage many members of a racial group, and the consequences can endure for many years, even for generations.61 Socio-economic factors It was recognised that racist and discriminatory attitudes in poverty, with malnutrition, overcrowded households, or held by individuals are interconnected with structural surrounded by crime, would still be less likely to achieve discrimination. As a starting point, focus was on structural in school at the same levels as students with social and discrimination but it is done in the hope that systemic economic advantages. change will improve individual attitudes. The effect of inequitable social and economic circumstances in perpetuating negative outcomes is another key issue discussed in our workshops. Even if structural discriminatory policies and practices were to be eliminated from schooling, for example, students who live The Child Poverty Action Group’s 2011 report, Hunger for Deficit theories Learning: Nutritional barriers to children’s education looks The cause of ethnic inequalities is still sometimes attributed at the situation of social and economic circumstances for in popular discourse to deficit theories, a flawed model that children in decile 1 and 2 schools and effects on education. according to educational psychologist Richard Valencia Principals spoke of parents working long hours, often with has roots in racist discourse spanning well over a century. multiple jobs and insecure and/or overcrowded housing. Deficit theorising can be traced back to nineteenth-century Overcrowding often means children had nowhere to read ‘scientific racism’, which was itself a development of – and or do homework. The report says: justification for – imperialism and colonialism. Children from lower socioeconomic families, Mäori and Pasifika children, are more likely to come to school hungry, and, as a result, are more likely to be lacking important nutrients in their diets, be unable to concentrate at school, and suffer from obesity and being overweight. This disparity increases as children get older ... Lack of breakfast therefore emerges as both a symptom and a cause of the welldocumented health, educational and social inequities found among New Zealand’s children and young people.64 Today, deficit theories, also known as “victim blaming,” are popular explanations for ethnic disparities, placing blame on ethnic minorities for failures believed to be based on internal deficits or deficiencies. Such thinking claims that deficits manifest in limited intellectual abilities, linguistic shortcomings and lack of motivation or hard work.62 Deficit thinking ignores the structural factors within dominant culture systems that give rise to ethnic disparities: “Blaming the victim” [is] a way of thinking about social problems that locates their origins in the purported deficits and failings of their victims rather than in the social institutions and practices that had brought about and sustained their victimisation.63 Recent research by social scientists has contested and discredited such theories, yet the foundations for deficit thinking often re-emerge in new forms and are frequently reproduced in the media and public discourse. Such theories can contribute to misinformed social policy which fails to acknowledge structural discrimination and embedded systemic barriers to equality. Hunger for Learning urges government support for a programme to provide breakfast in decile 1 and 2 schools. It recognises that this is not a long-term solution, but a potentially effective measure in addressing the negative impacts of child poverty. Access to safe, affordable and good quality housing is another key determinant of well-being. Race Relations in 2010 highlights the existence of ethnic inequalities in housing.65 Researchers Robson, Cormack and Cram also note that “household crowding, poor dwelling conditions and insecure tenure impacts on education, health and access to local services”.66 Lack of access to affordable housing as well as poor quality housing can be an outcome 15