Ethnicity and perceived discrimination in Toronto: Another look at the personal/group discrimination discrepancy.

Abstract

Perceptions of personal and group discrimination in five domains (jobs, pay, loans, promotions, and clubs) were investigated using the 1992 Minority Survey, which consisted of telephone interviews with 902 respondents from different ethnic groups in Toronto. The reported analyses concern six ethnic groups, representing visible, racial minorities (Blacks, Chinese, and South Asians) as well as white minorities (Italians, Jews, and Portuguese). The personal/group discrimination discrepancy (PGDD) - i.e., perceiving greater discrimination toward one's group than oneself personally - was observed to varying extent across all domains and ethnic groups, though with some exceptions. Visible minorities perceived greater discrimination toward their group than did white minorities, especially in the economic domains of jobs, pay, and promotions. Among visible minorities, Black respondents perceived higher levels of group and personal discrimination than most other ethnic groups across domains, followed in turn by Chinese and South Asian respondents. By contrast, white minority group members perceived considerably less group or personal discrimination than members of visible minorities, except for Jewish respondents who reported greater group discrimination in joining clubs than any other ethnic group. Implications for Toronto and Canadian society, along with a critical analysis of the PGDD phenomenon, are discussed.