Researchers should also be alert to the possibility that macro-stressors that are ostensibly unrelated to race or ethnicity, can be racialized in ways that can generate increased discrimination for socially stigmatized groups. The terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001 are an example. These incidents had documented negative health consequences (DiMaggio et al. 2007), but they also triggered increased discrimination and harassment targeted to Arab Americans in the 6 months after the terrorist attacks (Lauderdale 2006). Lauderdale (2006) found that Arab American women in California had an increase in the rate of low birth weight and pre-term birth in the 6 months after September 11 compared to the 6 months before. Other women in California did not experience a change in birth outcome risk post September 11.
