Survey shows racism and discrimination against Palestinians has alarming mental and physical health effects on Palestinians and their allies
New Survey Reveals Harmful Effects of Discrimination Against Palestinians and Allies
San Francisco, Calif., April 18, 2024 — The Anti-Palestinian Racism Research Group (APRRG) reported today preliminary findings from a new national survey on racism against Palestinians. The survey reveals key insights into how racism and discrimination against Palestinians has harmful effects on Palestinians and non-Palestinian allies advocating for Palestinian rights in the United States.
The survey was conducted with approval of the University of California San Francisco Institutional Review Board and developed in consultation with the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association, who authored a landmark report on the subject, as well as pediatricians, anti-racism experts, educators, students, physicians, and community members. Results from over 1,200 respondents surveyed during March-April 2024 revealed racism against Palestinians — defined as a form of racism that “silences, excludes, erases, stereotypes, defames or dehumanizes Palestinians or their narratives” — is widespread, and negatively impacts more people than previously understood.
Almost three-quarters of respondents (72.5%) were non-Palestinian, yet 64.6% of respondents had experienced anti-Palestinian racism directly or online — revealing that racism and discrimination against Palestinians is having widespread impacts on non-Palestinian allies.
“Through our work as pediatricians and psychologists, we began to realize that anti-Palestinian racism was impacting both Palestinians and non-Palestinians,” said Dr. Lama Rimawi. “Because anti-Palestinian racism is under-recognized and under-studied, many people were unaware of what they were experiencing and felt isolated. These results demonstrate that anti-Palestinian racism is affecting much larger numbers of people than previously realized with potentially significant negative health effects.”
A large majority of survey respondents (73.5%) reported feelings of being isolated and alone. “As healthcare professionals, we are especially concerned about the impact of anti-Palestinian racism on respondents’ health, both physically and emotionally,” said Dr. Ellen McMahon. “An overwhelming majority of respondents told us that they’re struggling, whether in school, the workplace, or online. These results indicate that more training is needed on how to identify racism against Palestinians and combat the negative impacts on health and wellness.”
In addition, a majority of survey respondents said that their mental or physical health had been harmed by personally experiencing or witnessing anti-Palestinian racism (71.2%), leading to feelings of fear, anxiety, self-doubt, low self-esteem, depression, hypervigilance, insecurity, isolation, alienation, difficulty concentrating, feeling more irritable, and other negative emotions. Other harmful impacts described in the survey include insomnia, headaches, back pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, and nausea.
“The results suggest that anti-Palestinian racism is pervasive and has a negative impact on the physical and emotional health of people experiencing it. Without more education and protection, I am concerned about the long-term negative health consequences of anti-Palestinian racism on people and communities,” said Jess Ghannam, PhD.
“Anti-Palestinian racism is a distinct form of racism, not to be conflated with Islamophobia. Over the last several months, incidents of anti-Palestinian racism have intensified across society – particularly from those holding positions of power. The smearing, silencing and dehumanization of Palestinians and their allies have resulted in workplace reprisals, censorship on campuses, criminalization of dissent, and violence directed at Palestinian-Americans and their allies. Lawmakers and administrators must act now to recognize and address anti-Palestinian racism and its widespread impacts,” said Dania Majid, head of the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association. “What’s notable about this survey is the large number of non-Palestinian respondents who reported feeling mental and physical harm as a result of discrimination and racism against Palestinians. This speaks to how pervasive hostility against Palestinians has become in recent months, despite growing American public support for Palestinian rights and freedom.”
In fact, more than half of respondents (55.3%) were afraid to speak out about what is happening to Palestinians in Gaza or for Palestinian human rights in general, and 87.9% of respondents had witnessed others experiencing anti-Palestinian racism directly or online, suggesting a prevalent atmosphere of fear and intimidation resulting from racism against Palestinians.
“We are concerned that racism against Palestinians is actively contributing to fear and intimidation online, at schools, and in the workplace,” said Dr. Toni Biskup. “Our survey took place across a backdrop of increasing reports of censorship and retaliation against Americans who are advocating for Palestinian freedom. Unfortunately, the responses of our participants seem to align with ongoing attempts to silence and shut down discussions about Palestinian freedom and human rights.”
About The Anti-Palestinian Racism Research Group
The Anti-Palestinian Racism Research Group consists of researchers, physicians, and psychologists who are committed to empirically studying the impact of anti-Palestinian racism on individuals and communities across all sectors of civil society.
Our mission is to end racism against Palestinians, and against non-Palestinian allies and advocates for Palestinian rights and freedom.
Contact:
Jess Ghannam, PhD
The Anti-Palestinian Racism Research Group
415-937-3085