Stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination Part II Racism, Sexism and reduction of prejudices and discrimination

Agenda Racism Sexism Reducing stereotypes

Racism – Blatant and subtle Traditional racism Blatant, explicit, and unmistakable acts of aggression against minorities Modern racism A form of prejudice that surfaces in subtle ways when it is safe, socially acceptable, and easy to rationalize; likely present under cloud of ambiguity Example: If unambiguous evidence is presented to a jury, different races are convicted equally. If ambiguous discrimination can occur Facial features and the death penalty

Racism: Current forms and challenges The ironic consequences of Obama’s election: Decreased support for social justice

Aversive racism Why does modern racism exist? Many people are racially ambivalent and they want to see themselves as fair, but they still harbor feelings of anxiety and discomfort about other racial groups Concerns the ambivalence between individuals' sincerely fair minded attitudes and beliefs, on the one hand, and their largely unconscious and unrecognized negative feelings and beliefs about certain out-groups, on the other hand

Racism and Implicit Attitudes Are automatically activated evaluations outside of a person’s awareness (unconscious) Formed slowly through experience Very resistant to extinction Changing implicit attitudes Can be changed without subject’s conscious awareness Prime subjects with counterstereotypes

Explicit vs. implicit racial preferences

How to measure implicit attitudes: Measures to Assess True Attitudes a. Implicit Association Test (IAT) technique for revealing unconscious prejudices toward particular groups b. Priming and Implicit Prejudice Priming - procedure used to increase the accessibility of a concept or schema (for example, a stereotype)

IAT – Implicit association test

Sexism

Sexism –Hostile and benevolent Hostile sexism Characterized by negative, resentful feelings about women's abilities, value, and ability to challenge men's power Benevolent sexism Characterized by affectionate, chivalrous feelings founded on the potentially patronizing belief that women need and deserve protection It is a problem particularly for women who defy typical gender roles and are perceived as acting "unlady-like“ (Example moving)

Competence and gender When are women see as competent? When they present themselves with stereotypically masculine rather than feminine traits, yet when they do this they are also seen as less socially skilled and attractive which may also cost them the job or career advancement they were seeking

Prescriptive stereotype Indicate what men and women should be Why do prescriptive stereotypes play into sexism? ex: when women exhibit traits valued in society (male traits) they may be viewed in harsh terms, contributing to the double standards that are hallmark of sexism Example video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTOjg4De188

Class discussion Give examples of when you have experienced/observed sexism. Would you describe it as benevolent sexism or hostile sexism? Sexism can also be referred to men (example: “don’t express your feelings) What do you think benevolent sexism? Positive/negative/doesn’t matter. Why?

Social roles theory What determines what toys boys/girls will like? Neurobiology and society? Social Roles Theory The theory that small gender differences are magnified in perception by the contrasting social roles occupied by men and women

Three steps of Social Roles Theory 1) Biological and social factors, a division of labor between the sexes has emerged over time, both at home and in work setting. Men: construction and business, Women: Childcare, low-status jobs 2) People behave in ways that fit the roles they play, men are more likely than women to wield physical, social and economic power 3) These behavioral differences provide a continuing basis for social perception, leading us to perceive men as dominant and women as domestic "by nature" when in fact the differences reflect the roles they play

Reducing Prejudice

Reducing Prejudice Social Learning teach parents to socialize children to be tolerant Increase intergroup contact contact must involve cooperation and interdependence norms favoring group equality must exist focus on individual-based (vs. category) processing Extended Contact Hypothesis knowing that members of in-group have formed friendships with out-group members may reduce prejudice 4 10 10

Contact hypothesis The theory that direct contact between hostile groups will reduce prejudice under certain conditions; yes, eventually Contact hypothesis conditions 1) equal status: contact should occur under equal conditions 2) Personal interaction: contact should involve one-on-one interactions 3) Cooperative activities: Members of the two groups should join together in an effort to achieve superordinate goals 4) Social norms: the social norms, defined in part by relevant authorities, should favor intergroup contact

Social Categorization: Us vs. Them Feelings of common identity Is there a way to minimize the us-vs.-them effect? Try to foster feelings of a common identity between groups To boost our self-esteem in some other domain, so as to negate the need to derogate others for this purpose. Have groups work on superordinate goals Recategorization reset boundaries between “us” and “them”, so former out-group is now included in in-group © 2004 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

Realistic conflict theory Does contact always lead to reduced prejudice? Realistic conflict theory The theory that hostility between groups is caused by direct competition for limited resources (losing group feels frustrated and resentful, winning group feels threatened and protective) Relative deprivation Feelings of discontent aroused by the belief that one fares poorly compared with others (ex: keeping up with the Jones's even if house is big)

Need sweets to stay sweet? How do you inhibit making derogatory comments? increasing blood glucose Participants: Prejudiced against gay Non-prejudiced against gay Both drank sugary and non-sugary drink Those who drank sugary drink were assumed to have more energy to inhibit expressions of prejudice