Can’t Catch Cab

The researchers in this study looked at the relationship between racial discrimination and unfair treatment and blood pressure. The sample (Black adults = 1638; White = 2112) was drawn from a larger, multi-site, community study. Over the course of 7 years, participants’ personal data were collected on four separate occasions. On the 4th point of contact (year 7), participants were interviewed about their experiences with unfair treatment and racial discrimination (in various settings, e.g., work, public spaces, school, getting housing, getting a job, etc.), and their blood pressures, in addition to other biometrics, were recorded.

The majority of respondents (70-80%), both Black and White, claimed that they responded to unfair treatment by trying to do something about it and by talking to others about it. Data analyses, however, showed that, compared with White women, Black women were more likely (1.5 times more) to keep to themselves the experience of unfair treatment. Men, both Black and White, equally withheld experiences of unfair treatment, but were 2 and almost 3 times more likely to do so, respectively, than their female counterparts. The researchers attribute this, in part, to society’s gender constructs, which allow women to be more vocal and honest about feelings.

Krieger and Sidney also found that the overwhelming percentage of Black adults experienced racial discrimination; seventy-seven percent of Black women and 84% of Black men reported racism in at least one of seven situations in their lives—50 and 60%, respectively, experienced discrimination in three or more typical situations. The most common type of discrimination reported took place on the street or in a public space.

Analyses of blood pressure recordings show that working-class Black women, who responded to unfair treatment by accepting as a fact of life and keeping it to themselves, had higher blood pressure than those who tried to do something about the unfair treatment and talked to others about it. A similar pattern occurred among working-class Black men.

In addition to measuring responses to unfair treatment or discrimination, researchers also considered the pervasiveness of discrimination. Reporting no discrimination along with accepting unfair treatment as a part of life and keeping it to oneself was associated with higher blood pressure than reporting discrimination in one or two situations and actively trying to deal with it through action and talking. In other words, responding to discrimination and talking to others about it is healthier than bottling it all up. Krieger and Sidney also suggest that those Black adults who reported no discrimination but had higher blood pressure than others who did report discrimination are likely to suppress the experience of discrimination. They don’t think about or acknowledge the racism that they face. This, combined with a passive reaction to any unfair treatment, may account for the higher than expected blood pressure results.

On average, Blacks had higher blood pressure than Whites. However, the difference was least among the professional-class than in the working-class groups, even after accounting for variables such as age, education, body type, etc. Gender differences in blood pressure may have something to do with typical gender roles.

Relevance to documentary: It will be difficult to capture, on film, a person’s suppression of discrimination: If people who experience discrimination don’t acknowledge it, how can they share it with us? Consequently, if some victims of discrimination don’t feel that they have been discriminated against, is it really happening? (Here’s a hint: most definitely.) The recent Paycheck Fairness Act (a.k.a., Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009) in Congress is a response to the Supreme Court’s refusal to allow Ms. Ledbetter to seek compensation for years of gender discrimination at work. She was paid 40 percent less than her male co-workers for doing the same job, but she wasn’t aware of it until well after the statute of limiations for redress expired. This is an example of someone who was not aware of the discrimination being perpetrated against her; yet, no one would deny that she was, in fact, experiencing discrimination.

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Posted by Alejandro on January 26th, 2009 under Research • RSS • Comment, or trackback