Lecture 8: Forms of Prejudice l Flashcards
continuum of prejudice (from blatant to subtle)
old-fashioned prejudice -> symbolic prejudice -> aversive prejudice -> ambivalent prejudice -> implicit prejudice
when was old-fashioned racism present?
Reconstruction- 1960s
3 key ideas of old-fashioned racism
- Whites’ absolute belief in their biological superiority over other races
- A firm belief in racial separation and subjugation
- The use of the government to establish a system of segregation and other forms of discrimination
racism over the past half-century
racial prejudice has taken more subtle forms either in attitude or behaviour
why were theories of symbolic and aversive prejudice developped?
Theories of symbolic and aversive prejudice were originally developed to explain anti-Black prejudice on the part of white people, but have since been extended to other fields
do theories of symbolic racism assume everyone is prejudiced?
Theories of symbolic and aversive prejudice assume that some prejudice resides within most white people in some fashion
when did social norms shift toward the belief in principles of equality?
post wwll
what people have accepted the norm of equality most?
politicially liberal & younger people
does old fashioned prejudice still exist today?
yes, but it isn’t as prevalent
Lee Atwater’s Southern Strategy
type of dog-whistle politics that relied on race-related policies designed to uphold the racial hierarchy, without overtly being racist
dog-whistle politics
underlying message that is only understood by some
welfare queen
common trope that highlighted people who were allegedly taking advantage of the welfare system
symbolic prejudice is also called
modern prejudice
symbolic prejudice
A set of beliefs about Black people as an abstract group rather than as individuals. Beliefs portray members of stigmatized groups as morally inferior because they violate traditional values like hard work
what might a symbolically prejudiced person say about the accusation that they’re racist?
“It’s not about race per se; it’s a social political/issue”
5 main beliefs of symbolic racism
- Racial prejudice/discrimination no longer exist (or are not barriers to success)
- Differences in economic status results from a lack of motivation
- Anger over inequality and unfair treatment is unjustified
- Rather than working to get ahead, Black people seek special favours from the government
- Black people are now getting more than they deserve economically
distribution of symbolic prejudice
positively skewed (most people do not display modern racism)
paradox of symbolic racism
people with symbolic prejudice endorse racial equality in principle, but oppose policies that could bring it about
two types of equality
equality of opportunity & outcome
equality of opportunity
everyone deserves the same chance to succeed
do people high in modern racism agree with equality of opportunity?
yes
equality of outcome
everyone should have an equal share of successes.
do people high in modern racism agree with equality of outcome?
no
criticism of symbolic racism
how do you distinguish anti-Black prejudice from principled ideological views?