Impact of racism on health and wellbeing in ageing

Project description

This research project investigates how racism affects the health and wellbeing migrant women aged 40 to 60 in Belgium. Additionally, we aim to understand how these women cope with racism and what sources of strength they utilise. Racism is not an individual incident, but a deeply rooted societal problem that impacts the health of people worldwide. Nevertheless, knowledge about how racism determines our health remains limited, and these experiences are insufficiently heard.

Racism can have long-term consequences that accumulate throughout life. Middle age, or midlife, is a crucial period in which health problems can become more visible. However, this life stage also offers opportunities where prevention and the enhancement of wellbeing are possible.

Throughout their lives, many women have developed ways to deal with racism. They draw strength from various sources, such as cultural traditions, family, community, spirituality, and personal experiences. This knowledge and resilience often remain underexposed in research. This project aims to make these experiences visible and to acknowledge them.

Keywords

racism, health older people with migration background

Want to know more?

Website: Research portal (VUB)

Contact person

Saloua Berdai-Chaouni - Saloua.berdai-chaouni@vub.be