In my master's thesis I researched how Slovenian women of colour experience racism. To understand the origins of racism, I first presented in the theoretical part the history of racism in relation to colonialism through theories such as monogeism, polygenism, natural descent theory, social Darwinism, evolutionism, cultural determinism, critical race theory and intersectionality theory. Then I set out to deconstruct the socially constructed concepts of “race” and ethnicity. I delved into different types of racisms, such as interpersonal, institutional, structural, internalized, and gendered racism. I also examined how racism is reproduced through prejudices and stereotypes, both in Europe and in Slovenia. In the last chapter of the theoretical part, I focused on responses to racism, paying particular attention to anti-racist movements and the fights against discrimination. In the empirical part, I present the findings of the focus groups. Nine black women who were born in Slovenia or came here at an early age participated in a total of three groups. I reached them through non-randomised convenience sampling. The questions were mainly related to their experiences with different types of racism, stereotypes, and prejudices based on skin colour, but also to their experiences of ethnic identity and their wishes for the change in the society. Through my research, I learned about the types of racism experienced by Slovenian women of colour and the impact it has on their lives. I have found that racism affects different people in different ways. Although they are sometimes not even aware of it, as they often do not recognise racism as racism in the first place, they still perceive such acts, which affect their lives in a negative way. I have discovered that white Slovenian society perceives only white Slovenian people as Slovenes. The survey showed that Slovenian women of colour experience a specific type of racism, mainly indirect violence, with verbal violence being the most common. They also experience gendered racism. Some people have internalised racism, which is why they feel the need to create a white look. Racism against Slovenian women of colour is most often reproduced through positive discrimination and positive stereotypes. To stop reproducing racism, we must first understand it, become aware of it, name it, and consciously stop reproducing it. This is the only way to co-create an open society with equal opportunities and rights, both on paper, as well as in practice.
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