Anti-Palestinian Racism Survey Additional Findings Report 2024: Student and Educator Data
Anti-Palestinian racism is a form of racism that “silences, excludes, erases, stereotypes, defames, or dehumanizes Palestinians or their narratives.”
This survey was designed in consultation with the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association and based on the description of anti-Palestinian racism in their seminal report: “Anti-Palestinian Racism: Naming, Framing and Manifestations.”
The survey was developed to assess the prevalence and impacts of anti-Palestinian racism on both Palestinians and non-Palestinians.
“Anti-Palestinian Racism is experienced by Palestinians, those perceived to be Palestinian or inherently pro-Palestinian, and non-Palestinians who express support for Palestinian rights. Anti-Palestinian racism usually targets those who publicly speak in support of Palestinian rights or share Palestinian narratives or openly criticize the state of Israel for their treatment of Palestinians.”
The primary research questions included: 1. What is the prevalence of anti-Palestinian racism in a general population of people in the United States? 2. What is the prevalence of anti-Palestinian racism experienced by both Palestinians and non-Palestinians? 3. What is the prevalence of fear, feelings of isolation, and/or other negative health effects potentially due to anti-Palestinian racism?
An important part of this study is the contextualization of anti-Palestinian racism in its expansion beyond the core target population. Through our work as pediatricians, educators, and psychologists, we realized that anti-Palestinian racism was impacting both Palestinians and non-Palestinians. However, since anti-Palestinian racism is under-recognized and under-studied, many people were unaware of what they were experiencing and felt isolated. We hypothesized that anti-Palestinian racism is impacting a larger number of people than was previously understood, with potentially significant negative health effects. This is the first national study we are aware of designed to investigate this concept.
A 5-minute, voluntary national survey was developed based on information from “Anti-Palestinian Racism: Naming, Framing and Manifestations” report, consultation with the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association, and consultation with pediatricians and other physicians, anti-racist and communication experts, educators, students, and community members. The survey was approved by the UCSF IRB prior to implementation. Surveys were conducted online, distributed via email to multiple social media lists, physician groups, and other online lists.
KEY FINDINGS:
Over 1200 respondents completed the survey. The majority of respondents identified as non-Palestinian (72.5%). Most respondents identified as women (61.0%) and non-Muslim (57.9%). The sample was comprised of a diverse age range: 18-24 years (9.4%), 25-34 (28.6%), 35-44 (29.6%), 45-54 (17.8%), 55-64 (8.0%), 65-74 (5.2%), and 75+ (1.5%). In addition, 31.7% of respondents identified as LGBTQ+.
An initial finding of the survey is that 64.6% of respondents experienced anti-Palestinian racism either directly or online. This theme also emerged in a separate survey item in which 63.4% of respondents reported experiencing silencing, exclusion, harassment, physical threat or harm, or defamation while advocating for Gaza and/or Palestinian human rights. In addition, the findings also revealed that 73.5% of respondents felt alone or isolated in their concern about Palestinian human rights and 87.9% of respondents had witnessed others experiencing anti-Palestinian racism either directly or online. Anti-Palestinian racism negatively impacts the people experiencing it and the data suggests that the racist behavior is widespread. In addition, 55.3% of respondents were afraid to speak out about what is happening to Palestinians in Gaza or for Palestinian human rights in general.
As health professionals, we were especially concerned about the impact of anti-Palestinian racism on respondents’ physical and emotional health. The vast majority (82.4%) reported experiencing harm to mental or physical health at least once or twice due to experiencing or witnessing anti-Palestinian racism, with 71.2% reporting health impacts at least some of the time and 38.3% reporting health impacts most or all of the time.
This additional-findings report is focused on the results from our survey regarding student and educator data, which comprised 257 respondents (127 students and 130 educators) out of the 1227 respondents for the study. Educators were defined as: Professors (faculty), teachers, and education administrators.
Regarding the impact of anti-Palestinian racism experienced in schools and other academic institutions, 74% of students and 75% of educators experienced silencing, exclusion, harassment, physical threat or harm, and defamation while advocating for Gaza and/or Palestinian human rights (Figure 1 and 2).
In addition, 66% of student respondents reported having experienced or witnessed anti-Palestinian racism from teachers, faculty, or administrators and 66% reported experiencing it from other students. Also, 31% experienced anti-Palestinian racism from a supervisor that has the ability to fire them (Table 1). Out of the educator respondents, 69% reported experiencing or witnessing anti-Palestinian racism from teachers, faculty, or administrators, 62% also experienced it from colleagues at work, 48% from students, and 39% from supervisors that can fire them (Table 2).
Other dramatic findings were that 81% of educators and 68% of students felt alone or isolated in their concern about Palestinian human rights. The majority of students (60%) and the majority of educators (61%) were afraid to speak out about what is happening to Palestinians in Gaza or for Palestinian human rights in general. (Figure 3)
In addition, 75% of students reported negative mental or physical health effects some, most or all the time. (Figure 4) Mental health effects included: fear, anxiety, self-doubt, low self-esteem, depression, hypervigilance, insecurity, alienation, difficulty concentrating, and more. Physical health effects included: insomnia, headaches, body pain, back pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea. Similarly, 80% of educators reported negative mental or physical health effects some, most, or all the time. (Figure 5).
Taken together, our findings suggest that anti-Palestinian racism impacts a higher percentage of students and educators than previously expected, is highly prevalent in schools and other academic settings, is having a deleterious impact on students and educator’s health and wellness, and is resulting in increased levels of isolation, fear, and intimidation. We believe these findings suggest that anti-Palestinian racism is a pervasive phenomenon, affecting students and educators of diverse backgrounds, and deserves special attention to combat the negative impacts on students’ and educators’ health and wellbeing.
This data is being released early because of the significance of the findings and the implication that anti-Palestinian racism’s negative impact on students, faculty, and staff in academic institutions. The potential for significant negative health impacts on students is of concern. This is happening within institutions at all levels of society and academic spaces, as students are often facing anti-Palestinian racism from staff and faculty. Institutions need to address this immediately in order to protect the mental and physical health of their students and educators.
We recommend institutions raise awareness of anti-Palestinian racism and include it in their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and anti-racist efforts. To effectively counter the targeting of Palestinian civil rights, institutions should implement Title VI and investigate claims of anti-Palestinian racism (APR) without bias, ensuring accountability for any discrimination or denial of civil rights. Conducting surveys among students, faculty, and staff will help assess the impact of anti-Palestinian racism on school and academic communities. Additionally, building alliances against discrimination is crucial, as is the protection of inherent civil liberties that allow for free speech, questioning, and open debate on difficult topics. Institutions must also ensure consistent treatment of students from diverse backgrounds, particularly those with shared ancestry, to foster an inclusive and equitable environment.
We are releasing these additional findings in advance of a complete report, currently in preparation, because we believe the student and educator data is particularly timely, novel and profound. Anti-Palestinian racism must be addressed immediately by universities, academic institutions, schools, government officials, departments of education, offices of civil rights and other organizations in which students and educators may be affected throughout the country.
More research is needed to further understand anti-Palestinian racism and its impact on individuals in various settings. In addition, dedicated funding is needed to raise awareness of this under-recognized form of racism, educate schools and academic institutions on anti-Palestinian racism, and provide training on how to identify and effectively combat this phenomenon and the accompanying harms.