Racial/Ethnic Prejudice and Discrimination: Causes, Patterns and Consequences

Racial/Ethnic Prejudice and Discrimination: Causes, Patterns and Consequences

1.1. The Meaning of Prejudice, Social Distance,The Meaning of Prejudice, Social Distance,and Discriminationand Discrimination

2.2. The Vicious Cycle of P+DThe Vicious Cycle of P+D

3.3. Causes of P+DCauses of P+D

4.4. Patterns of P+DPatterns of P+D

Who is a Who is a ““Timid Bigot?Timid Bigot?””

Racial/Ethnic Prejudice and Discrimination: Causes, Patterns and Consequences

Racial/Ethnic Prejudice and Discrimination: Causes, Patterns and Consequences

5.5. AmericaAmerica’’s Unique s Unique ““Dilemma?Dilemma?””

((Gunnar MyrdalGunnar Myrdal))

6.6. Evidence of P+D Today: At ISU, in theEvidence of P+D Today: At ISU, in theUSA, in the World?USA, in the World?

7.7. Solutions?Solutions?

Prejudice, Social Distance,Discrimination and Hate Crimes

Prejudice, Social Distance,Discrimination and Hate Crimes

Prejudice:Prejudice: Literally means to prejudge anotherLiterally means to prejudge anotherperson or group. Not always bad.person or group. Not always bad.Concern with irrationally basedConcern with irrationally basednegative attitudesnegative attitudes..

Social Distance:Social Distance: The degree of The degree of desireddesired social social intimacyintimacybetween groups.between groups.

Prejudice, Social Distance,Discrimination and Hate Crimes

Prejudice, Social Distance,Discrimination and Hate Crimes

Discrimination:Discrimination: Overt actionOvert action that that denies opportunitiesdenies opportunities for forsome and results in preferential treatment forsome and results in preferential treatment forothers.others.

Hate Crime:Hate Crime: State of Iowa law and Ames ordinance passedState of Iowa law and Ames ordinance passedJuly 1, 1990 (simple misdemeanor for Ames,July 1, 1990 (simple misdemeanor for Ames,a felony offense for the state). It includesa felony offense for the state). It includesanything done to: anything done to: ““Injure, oppress, intimidate,Injure, oppress, intimidate,or interfere with someoneor interfere with someone’’s rights ors rights orprivileges.privileges.””

Basic Concepts (cont’d)Basic Concepts (cont’d)

Race:Race: People who share People who share biologicalbiological traits deemed traits deemedsocially significant.socially significant.

May not make much senseMay not make much sense

Extensive mixing for centuriesExtensive mixing for centuries

Ethnic Group:Ethnic Group: People who share a People who share a culturalcultural heritage, heritage,common language, religion, social identity.common language, religion, social identity.

Basic Concepts (cont’d)Basic Concepts (cont’d)

Minority:Minority: People distinguished by physical or culturalPeople distinguished by physical or culturaltraits and are traits and are socially disadvantagedsocially disadvantaged..

Not just based on numbersNot just based on numbers

Minorities lack powerMinorities lack power

Do you know these people?Do you know these people?

Real NameReal Name

1.1. Cherilyn SarhisianCherilyn Sarhisian

2.2. Cheryl Cheryl StoppelmoorStoppelmoor

3.3. Robert Allen ZimmermanRobert Allen Zimmerman

4.4. Anna May BullockAnna May Bullock

5.5. Ramon Ramon EstervezEstervez

New NameNew Name

1.1. CherCher

2.2. Cheryl LaddCheryl Ladd

3.3. Bob DylanBob Dylan

4.4. Tina TurnerTina Turner

5.5. Martin SheenMartin Sheen

Why did they change their names?Why did they change their names?

Racist U.S.?Racist U.S.?

U. S. Racial CompositionU. S. Racial Composition

19901990 19981998 20052005 20502050

WhiteWhite 83.983.9 82.682.6 81.381.3 72.872.8

BlackBlack 12.312.3 12.712.7 13.213.2 15.715.7

American IndianAmerican Indian 0.80.8 0.90.9 0.90.9 1.11.1

THE VICIOUS CYCLE

2

1

3

4

1 PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION BEGIN

2 AS A RESULT OF PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION A GROUP IS SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED

3 THIS DISADVANTAGE IS INTERPRETED AS EVIDENCE THAT THE MINORITY GROUP IS INFERIOR

4 THIS CREATES RENEWED PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION

Theories of PrejudiceTheories of Prejudice1.1. Scapegoat TheoryScapegoat Theory

(Frustrated and Disadvantaged Unfairly Blame Others.)(Frustrated and Disadvantaged Unfairly Blame Others.)

2.2. Authoritarian PersonalityAuthoritarian Personality

(Rigid and Conforming Persons, See Moral Issues as Clear-Cut.(Rigid and Conforming Persons, See Moral Issues as Clear-Cut.Strongly Ethnocentric)Strongly Ethnocentric)

3.3. Cultural Theory: People Learn to be Prejudiced.Cultural Theory: People Learn to be Prejudiced.

(Learn Desired (Learn Desired ““Social DistanceSocial Distance”” To Keep From Other People.) To Keep From Other People.)

4.4. Conflict Theory of PrejudiceConflict Theory of Prejudice

(Prejudice Used To Justify Oppression of Others. Elites May(Prejudice Used To Justify Oppression of Others. Elites MayFoster It To Divide People.)Foster It To Divide People.)

PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION

BIGOT

TIMIDBIGOT

FAIR WEATHERLIBERAL

ALL WEATHERLIBERAL

PREJUDICE

DIS

CR

IMIN

AT

ION

YES NO

YES

NO

Women and Blacks in U.S.: “Minorities”Women and Blacks in U.S.: “Minorities” Prejudice Toward BothPrejudice Toward Both

Women Actually Numeric MajorityWomen Actually Numeric Majority

Parallels:Parallels:

High Social VisibilityHigh Social Visibility Assigned a Assigned a ““PlacePlace””

Originally Forms of PropertyOriginally Forms of Property ““SuperstitiousSuperstitious””

Unable to VoteUnable to Vote ““Emotional, Not RationalEmotional, Not Rational””

““InferiorInferior”” Mental Endowment Mental Endowment

Evidence of P + D Today:In U.S., World-Wide, ISU?Evidence of P + D Today:In U.S., World-Wide, ISU?

Weekly Earnings by Race and Gender:Weekly Earnings by Race and Gender:

Hispanic WomenHispanic Women $337$337

Hispanic MenHispanic Men $390$390

Black WomenBlack Women $400$400

Black MenBlack Men $468$468

White WomenWhite Women $468$468

White MenWhite Men $615$615

TotalTotal $523$523

Black Imprisonment RatesBlack Imprisonment RatesUSAUSA 3,109 per 100,1003,109 per 100,100

South AfricaSouth Africa 729 per 100,100729 per 100,100

WhitesWhites 75.2 years75.2 years

African AmericansAfrican Americans 69.2 years69.2 years

Life Expectancy at BirthLife Expectancy at Birth

Who Is Most Likely to Be a Victim of Violent Crime?

Who Is Most Likely to Be a Victim of Violent Crime?

Blacks, Whites, Asians, Hispanics, Native AmericansBlacks, Whites, Asians, Hispanics, Native Americans

Native Americans Native Americans –– greatest risk greatest risk

Black-White Black-White –– victim rates narrowing victim rates narrowing

Whites Whites –– 82.2% of victims, 84.2% of population 82.2% of victims, 84.2% of population

Blacks Blacks –– 14.7% victims, 12.1% of population 14.7% victims, 12.1% of population

Evidence cont’d.Evidence cont’d.

•• Univ. of Wisconsin Univ. of Wisconsin ““diversitydiversity”” photo disaster is photo disaster iscomparable to:comparable to:

•• Ford Motor Co. of England Ford Motor Co. of England ““Faces at FordFaces at Ford””blunderblunder

Is the Univ. racist? Is Ford?Is the Univ. racist? Is Ford?

SOCIAL DISTANCE SCALE,SPRING 1999 RESPONSE CATEGORIES RESPONSE CATEGORIES 1 CLOSE KINSHIP BY MARRIAGE1 CLOSE KINSHIP BY MARRIAGE

2 VERY GOOD FRIENDS 2 VERY GOOD FRIENDS

3 AS MY NEIGHBORS 3 AS MY NEIGHBORS

4 SAME WORK GROUP 4 SAME WORK GROUP

5 SPEAKING ACQUAINTANCE ONLY 5 SPEAKING ACQUAINTANCE ONLY

6 AS VISITORS TO MY COUNTRY 6 AS VISITORS TO MY COUNTRY

7 EXCLUDE FROM MY COUNTRY 7 EXCLUDE FROM MY COUNTRY

“MINORITY GROUP” SCORE EXCLUDE

ITALIANS 2.32 2%

JEWS 2.52 1%

CANADIANS 2.18 1%

TURKS 3.05 2%

AFRICAN AMERICANS 2.31 2%

CHINESE 2.88 4%

GERMANS 2.20 1%

HOMOSEXUALS 4.11 21%

ARABS 3.37 9%

RUSSIANS 2.75 3%

AMERICAN INDIANS 2.46 1%

LAOTIANS 2.96 5%

ANGLO AMERICANS 2.07 1%

CHANGE IN PREJUDICE

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

1975

1984

1999

ITALIANS AFRICANAMERICANS

JEWS CHINESE

CHANGE IN PREJUDICE

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

1975

1984

1999

TURKS RUSSIANS ARABS HOMOSEXUALS

GENDER

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

MALE FEMALE

Are We All Prejudiced?Are We All Prejudiced?

StereotypesStereotypes Believed byBelieved by1.1. Muslim religionMuslim religion HispanicsHispanics 48%48% supports terrorismsupports terrorism WhitesWhites 41%41%

2.2. Catholics too controlledCatholics too controlled Asian AmericansAsian Americans 57%57%by churchby church BlacksBlacks 49%49%

3.3. Hispanics have tooHispanics have too Asian AmericansAsian Americans 68%68%many childrenmany children WhitesWhites 50%50%

StereotypesStereotypes Believed byBelieved by4.4. Blacks want to liveBlacks want to live Asian AmericansAsian Americans 31%31%

on welfareon welfare HispanicsHispanics 26%26%

5.5. Jews choose moneyJews choose money BlacksBlacks 54%54%over peopleover people HispanicsHispanics 43%43%

6.6. Asian-Americans areAsian-Americans are HispanicsHispanics 46%46%crafty and deviouscrafty and devious BlacksBlacks 41%41%

Are We All Prejudiced? (contAre We All Prejudiced? (cont’’d)d)

Harris poll for Harris poll for NCCJNCCJ, 1994, 1994

Solutions?Solutions?

How to react if your child uses racist language?How to react if your child uses racist language?

How to react if your child is subject to racist abuse?How to react if your child is subject to racist abuse?

Strategies for communities, organizations, societies?Strategies for communities, organizations, societies?

Solutions?Solutions?Solutions have roots based in Solutions have roots based in conflictconflict or or functionalfunctional theory: theory:

ConflictConflict FunctionalismFunctionalism

Hate crime legislationHate crime legislation Job creation/educationJob creation/education

Forced school busingForced school busing Promote positive socialPromote positive socialinteractioninteraction

Affirmative actionAffirmative action Promote diversityPromote diversity

ABA call for ban onABA call for ban on Parents teach toleranceParents teach tolerancedeath penaltydeath penalty

Which is most favored?Which is most favored?

Social Strategy to Reduce DesiredSocial Distance

Social Strategy to Reduce DesiredSocial Distance

Influence of Previous Contacts on Desired Social DistanceInfluence of Previous Contacts on Desired Social Distance

Secondmost

SecondSecondmostmost

Negative Positive

NotClose

Close

ThirdmostThirdThirdmostmost

Most S.D.desired

Most S.D.Most S.D.desireddesired

LeastLeastLeast

Parents’ Strategy to Reduce PrejudiceParents’ Strategy to Reduce Prejudice

Stereotyping may be one of first Stereotyping may be one of first ““skillsskills””children learn, age 4-5.children learn, age 4-5.

Be prejudiced by age of 7.Be prejudiced by age of 7.

Stereotyping may be one of first Stereotyping may be one of first ““skillsskills””children learn, age 4-5.children learn, age 4-5.

Be prejudiced by age of 7.Be prejudiced by age of 7.

Parent’s Strategy to Reduce Prejudice (cont’d)Parent’s Strategy to Reduce Prejudice (cont’d)

1.1. DonDon’’t tolerate ethnic jokes, slurst tolerate ethnic jokes, slurs

2.2. Use books, TV, news as toolsUse books, TV, news as tools

3.3. Answer questions directly, e.g. why dark skin?Answer questions directly, e.g. why dark skin?(Melanin in skin)(Melanin in skin)

4.4. Provide interaction opportunitiesProvide interaction opportunities

5.5. Check your own prejudicesCheck your own prejudices

(Mayo Clinic, February 2000)(Mayo Clinic, February 2000)