Questionnaire: Can You Recognise Racism?

What counts as racism?

Racism takes many forms. Some incidents are obvious, while others are subtle enough to leave people unsure whether what they witnessed was racist at all. The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination based on race, colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origins in specific contexts, including employment, education, and the provision of goods and services.

Recognising racism when it happens is the first step towards challenging it. The questionnaire below can help you think through different types of racist behaviour and test whether you can spot them in everyday situations.

Questionnaire: can you spot racist behaviour?

Answer yes or no to each statement, then check your responses against the answers at the end.

• Making fun of someone's cultural background, accent or physical appearance can amount to racism.
• Telling someone they should "go back to where they came from" or questioning where they are "really from" can constitute racist behaviour.
• Excluding someone from group activities, social events or work opportunities because of their race or ethnicity may be racist.
• Using slurs or derogatory terms to describe people of a particular race or ethnic background is racist.
• Repeating stereotypes about people based on their racial or ethnic background can be a form of racism.
• Assuming someone has certain abilities, behaviours or preferences because of their race can amount to racist behaviour.
• Treating job applicants or employees less favourably because of their racial background constitutes racial discrimination.
• Making jokes that rely on racial stereotypes, even when no offence is intended, can be racist.

The answer to every statement is yes, though context matters. Whether a particular incident would meet the legal definition of discrimination or harassment depends on the specific circumstances. If you answered no to some statements, consider why certain behaviours might seem acceptable when they can still cause real harm to those on the receiving end.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Why subtle racism still matters

Not all racism involves obvious hostility or direct abuse. Microaggressions, casual stereotyping and exclusion can be just as damaging over time. Someone repeatedly asked "where are you really from?" may feel their identity is constantly questioned. A colleague passed over for promotion due to assumptions about their background faces real career consequences.

Under the Equality Act 2010, intent is not required for something to be discriminatory. However, whether behaviour amounts to harassment involves both the perception of the person affected and an objective assessment of the circumstances. The legal test considers multiple factors, not just whether someone felt offended.

What to do if you witness or experience racism

If you experience racism at work, your employer has a legal duty to address it. Most workplaces have grievance procedures for raising complaints. You can also seek advice from Acas, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, which offers free guidance on workplace disputes.

For racism outside the workplace, options depend on the circumstances. Hate crimes and hate incidents can be reported to the police. You can also report incidents to organisations such as Tell MAMA for anti Muslim hatred or the Community Security Trust for antisemitism.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission provides guidance on your rights under discrimination law. Citizens Advice can help you understand your options if you are unsure how to proceed.

Challenging racism can take different forms. Formal complaints matter and are sometimes necessary to hold people and organisations accountable. But speaking up in the moment, supporting someone who has been targeted, or refusing to laugh at a racist joke also counts. Consistent responses to racist behaviour, whether formal or informal, help establish that it will not be tolerated.

For detailed information on discrimination law, GOV.UK has guidance on the Equality Act 2010. Laws and guidance can change, so checking current information is advisable.