February 3, 2009
6:40pm
A sector of the French housing department was fined for unethical housing practices. The department, known as the public body, was in charge of assigning families to low income housing. The public body was not supposed to take into account the race or ethnicity of the families in the housing selection process. However, an unofficial database was found describing applicants by race and or ethnicity. The database noted if applicants were African, North African, or Asian. This is in direct violation of French laws.
Housing discrimination against foreigners – especially those not from Western areas – tends to be problematic in France. France offers one of the most comprehensive welfare systems in the European Union, so poorer immigrants (who tend to be African, North African, or Asian) tend to enter the Union through an easier point of entrance (such as Spain or Italy) and migrate to France to receive benefits. Because of the high influx of immigrants and a employment infrastructure that promotes a high unemployment rate, anger towards immigrants for competing for jobs and from immigrants frustrated without jobs occurs.
While this may seem outright racist, similar happenings occur in the US. Although the government is typically not involved, many real estate agents will show homebuyers certain houses based on their race and the predominant race of the neighborhood. Similarly, the idea of white flight and subsequent devaluing of property can be considered just as race or ethnically based.
2 comments:
It is true that Europe is undergoing a large influx of immigrants, and it's very unfortunate to see such treatment going on. The racial discrimination that a new generation is facing in Europe should be dealt with now.
I agree, similar happenings do occur in the US as a matter of fact right here in Greensboro. I am a lesbian and my girlfriend and I were looking for a condo. A Caucasian couple had just finished speaking with the realtor before we walked in, but when she noticed us her smile turned to a sour milk face. She seemed so uninterested in helping us even while showing the model condo. It was gorgeous! I loved it, but was turned off by her attitude. She also made the comment "I'm not sure if you people can afford this condo they are brand new!" I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of being ignorant or shall I say stoop to her level, so we left. There was pretty much a double negative for us black and lesbian!
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