Meanings
- uncountableA form of racial discrimination where certain racial groups are held to lower standards because of an implicit belief that they are less capable.
The pain and suffering that racism, including the unconscious and thus insidious racism of low expectations has historically caused and continues to cause, in the lives of Americans of Color […]
2014, Lauren Joichin Nile, RACE: My Story & Humanity's Bottom Line, page 1022 more examples
The West tends to respond to the social failures of Muslim immigrants with what can be called the racism of low expectations. This Western attitude is based on the idea that people of color must be exempted from “normal” standards of behavior.
2010, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Nomad: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of CivilizationsThe presence of just one positive, supportive teacher who pays attention, has high expectations and nurtures a child can have a remarkable impact, even amid the routine racism of low expectations and heightened surveillance faced by Black children in contemporary schools and society.
2014, Nicola Rollock, David Gillborn, Carol Vincent, The Colour of Class
Origin
Cite this entry
racism of low expectations. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/racism%20of%20low%20expectations
“racism of low expectations.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/racism%20of%20low%20expectations. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “racism of low expectations,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/racism%20of%20low%20expectations.
Source: racism of low expectations on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.