Colonialism and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives from indigenous Psychology (International and Cultural Psychology)

This book views responses to the Covid 19 virus through the lens of indigenous thinking which sheds light on some of the failures in dealing with the pandemic. Colonial societies maintain beliefs that hierarchies are part of the natural order, and that certain people are entitled to privileges that others are not. These hierarchies have contributed to racism as well as health, and wealth disparities that have increased vulnerabilities to the virus. Indigenous societies, on the other hand, view individuals as interdependent, and hold an optimistic view that this tragedy can yield important lessons for future improvement. This book examines the legacy of colonial societies in contributing to existing vulnerabilities, and incorporates an indigenous perspective in re-imagining the problem and its solutions. -- Provided by publisher Acknowledgments 7 Introduction 8 Colonial Amnesia and Forgotten Horrors 9 References 11 Contents 12 Chapter 1: Colonialism and Pandemics 15 Hierarchies and Dehumanization 16 Colonial Hierarchies and Sanctioned Deception 18 A Vast Wilderness for the Taking and Taming 20 More is Better 21 Boundaries, Fences, and Walls 21 The Shortsightedness of Colonialism 22 An Assessment of Psychological Vulnerabilities from an Indigenous Perspective 23 Colonialism and Intergenerational Consequences: An Indigenous Interpretation 26 References 27 Chapter 2: The Colonial War with the Environment 30 Environmental Degradation Compounds a Pandemic: A Case Study 33 Colonial Supremacy and Nature 34 An Indigenous Understanding of Human Relationships with Nature 36 An Indigenous Interpretation: Disrespecting the Natural World Disrespects Ourselves 39 References 41 Chapter 3: Colonial Economics and COVID-19 46 Colonial Shortsightedness in Preparing for Pandemics 47 Colonial Deception and Pandemic Economics 50 Pre-Pandemic Tax Policies Created Greater Vulnerability for Many People 50 Open for Business 51 Privilege and Pandemic “Wealth Building” 53 The Gig: Essential Yet Disposable 55 Income and Wealth Inequities and COVID-19 57 How Colonial Beliefs Slowed the Response: An Indigenous Interpretation 59 References 61 Chapter 4: Colonial -Isms and COVID-19 69 -Isms and Colonial Splitting 70 Racism and COVID-19 70 Xenophobia and COVID-19 72 Populism, Nationalism, Racism, and Xenophobia 75 COVID-19 as an Instrument of Eugenics 78 COVID-19 and Incarceration 81 Sexism and COVID-19 82 Ageism and Colonialism 83 Colonial Ableism and COVID-19 86 COVID-19 and the Experiences of the Sexually Minoritized 87 -Isms and Distrust 87 An Indigenous Interpretation: Pandemics and -Isms 88 References 89 Chapter 5: Colonialism, COVID-19, and Education 99 The Difficult History of Colonial Education 100 What to Do with the Children? 101 Higher Education and COVID-19 103 Athletics and Pandemic Health 104 Health and Mental Health Consequences of COVID on Children and Youth 106 A Question of Values and Priorities: An Indigenous Interpretation 107 References 109 Chapter 6: Health Inequity and COVID-19 114 Review of COVID-19 History and Concerns 115 Colonial Health Care Systems Deliver Colonial Responses 118 COVID-19 Symptoms and Their Relevance to Psychological Health 119 Social Inequities Contribute to COVID-19 Disparities 123 The Devastation of COVID-19 on Minoritized Communities 124 Disparities in Trust of American Health Care 125 Defending the Well-being of the Most Vulnerable: An Indigenous Interpretation 126 References 127 Chapter 7: Colonialism, Treatments, and Vaccinations 135 Historical Lessons Lost and Found 136 Colonial deception and COVID-19 137 Empirical Efforts to Address COVID-19 138 The Search for Immunity 140 Vaccines and Vaccine Hesitancy 141 Vaccination Disparities 147 Anticipating Rather than Reacting: An Indigenous Interpretation 150 References 151 Chapter 8: Colonial Suffrage 163 The Politics of COVID 164 Self-Interests Above All 169 Voting Rights for the Privileged 170 Democracy vs. Hierarch-racy 172 Searching for the Council Tree: An Indigenous Interpretation 173 References 174 Chapter 9: Colonial Privilege and COVID-19 179 The Privilege of Opposing Science 180 Wielding Privilege During the COVID-19 Pandemic 190 Conspiracies and Privilege 193 Beyond Privilege: An Indigenous Interpretation 199 References 201 Chapter 10: Opportunities Created by COVID-19 212 Exposing the Challenges and Opportunities of Colonialism 213 Preparing for the Next Pandemic: An Opportunity to Transform Colonial Values 220 The Opportunity to Seek Collective Peace: An Indigenous Interpretation 224 References 225 Chapter 11: Indigenous Psychology and the Next Pandemic 227 Overcoming Colonial Hierarchies that Enhance Vulnerability 228 Wellness of Society Requires Ending Colonial Divisiveness 231 Circling Back to Wellness: An Indigenous Interpretation 238 References 239 Index 241