Showing papers in "Journal of Social Issues in 2015"
TL;DR: The authors analyzed the 345 most viewed U.S. television shows within 12 separate television seasons spanning the years 1987 to 2009 using multilevel modeling, the results from this comprehensive content analysis then are used to predict national-level racial/ethnic perceptions.
Abstract: The current study content analyzes the 345 most viewed U.S. television shows within 12 separate television seasons spanning the years 1987 to 2009. Using multilevel modeling, the results from this comprehensive content analysis then are used to predict national-level racial/ethnic perceptions (between the years 1988 and 2008) with data from the American National Election Studies (ANES). Content analysis results reveal severe underrepresentation of Latinos, Asian Americans, and Native Americans, and a tendency to depict ethnic minorities stereotypically (e.g., overrepresentation of hyper-sexualized Latino characters). Multilevel-modeling analysis indicates that both the quantity and quality of ethnic media representations contributes to Whites’ racial attitudes.
170 citations
TL;DR: This paper argued that the efficacy of direct, face-to-face intergroup contact as a means of reducing prejudice is a stark omission, as they illustrate with evidence of the association between diversity, on the one hand, and trust, prejudice, and social capital on the other.
Abstract: A controversial claim that diversity has negative consequences for trust and other outcomes spawned a contentious debate in sociology and political science, but was hardly noted in social psychology. I summarize the debate, and argue that the efficacy of direct, face-to-face intergroup contact as a means of reducing prejudice is a stark omission, as I illustrate with evidence of the association between diversity, on the one hand, and trust, prejudice, and social capital on the other. I also consider two other contributions of contact theory to this issue, namely that contact with members of one group has an impact on attitudes toward members of other groups; and that contact should be studied via social networks. Despite the importance I attach to contact, I note two “enemies of contact,” resegregation in ostensibly desegregated settings, and negatively valenced contact. Finally, I point to the kind of research we should do, in order to increase the impact of our work on the public policy debate on this issue.
121 citations
TL;DR: The authors argue that the invisibility of Native Americans in the media undermines self-understanding by homogenizing Native American identity, creating narrow and limiting identity prototypes for Native Americans, and evoking deindividuation and self-stereotyping among contemporary Native Americans.
Abstract: Mass media plays a substantial role in the way social groups understand themselves and are understood by others. Some social groups, like Native Americans, are rarely portrayed in mass media and, in the rare cases they appear, they are typically depicted in a stereotypical and historical fashion. The lack of contemporary representation of Native Americans in the media limits the ways in which Native Americans understand what is possible for themselves and how they see themselves fitting in to contemporary domains (e.g., education and employment) of social life. In this article, we contend that the invisibility of Native Americans in the media undermines self-understanding by homogenizing Native American identity, creating narrow and limiting identity prototypes for Native Americans, and evoking deindividuation and self-stereotyping among contemporary Native Americans.
112 citations
TL;DR: This article provided a review of the research record on the potential for media literacy education to intervene in the media's influence on racial and ethnic stereotypes, and explored the theoretical concepts that underlie these efforts.
Abstract: This article provides a review of the research record on the potential for media literacy education to intervene in the media's influence on racial and ethnic stereotypes, and explores the theoretical concepts that underlie these efforts It situates media literacy theory and practice within particular emphases in the field and synthesizes qualitative and quantitative studies Quantitative research on the effect of media literacy training and mediated counterstereotypes on reducing racial/ethnic prejudice is described In addition, we report qualitative data from an ongoing study of early adolescents who took part in a media literacy curriculum on stereotypes The research record reveals that although the topic is severely understudied, media literacy education holds great promise for its ability to shape media-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors and encourage an active and critical stance toward media
93 citations
TL;DR: This paper investigated how positive contact with members of the advantaged group shapes action strategies to cope with disadvantage and found that friendship contact with Anglo-Whites was overall negatively associated with interest in collective action.
Abstract: A current debate surrounds the issue of whether prejudice-reducing interventions such as intergroup contact may reduce resistance to unequal intergroup relations among disadvantaged groups. Addressing this question, this research investigates how positive contact with members of the advantaged group shapes action strategies to cope with disadvantage. Using survey data from a sample of Latino Americans (N = 112), structural equation modeling revealed that friendship contact with Anglo-Whites was overall negatively associated with interest in collective action. This relation was due to both reduced identification with the disadvantaged group and positive attitudes toward the advantaged group, which predicted reduced anger about inequality. Contact was also positively associated with an individual mobility orientation, a relation which was explained through increased perceived permeability. Individual mobility orientation did not, however, predict reduced motivation for collective action. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings for societal change and novel directions for future research are discussed.
80 citations
TL;DR: This article found that the experience of elevation in response to inspiring videos was associated with heightened feelings of overlap between the self and humanity, with this overlap associated with greater feelings of connectedness with those from a diversity of racial/ethnic groups.
Abstract: The majority of research on media counter-stereotyping of race/ethnicity has tended to employ positive portrayals or counter-stereotypical exemplars as a primary strategy in eliciting positive attitudes among White participants. In contrast, this article reports the results of an experiment on the unique role of affective responses to media messages as a mechanism in inducing greater feelings of connectedness with a diversity of racial/ethnic groups. Our focus is on the affective response of elevation specifically, which refers to feelings of being moved, touched, and inspired by images of people engaged in morally beautiful acts such as love, generosity, and kindness. Results show that the experience of elevation in response to inspiring videos was associated with heightened feelings of overlap between the self and humanity, with this overlap associated with greater feelings of connectedness with those from a diversity of racial/ethnic groups. This connection was also associated with more favorable attitudes.
73 citations
TL;DR: The Media Representations of Race and Ethnicity: Implications for Identity, Intergroup Relations, and Public Policy as discussed by the authors is a survey of the current state of the research in this domain.
Abstract: In everything from the policies that regulate media industries to the practices of the organizations that produce the messages to the usage patterns of the consumers that choose them, mass media are implicated in real-world interracial/ethnic dynamics. Yet, despite the obvious associations between media and issues of race and ethnicity, a comprehensive effort aimed at documenting and addressing these links has not been undertaken. The current issue, Media Representations of Race and Ethnicity: Implications for Identity, Intergroup Relations, and Public Policy, endeavors to do just that. The merits of such an effort are articulated in this introduction to the volume alongside a review of the current state of the research in this domain.
69 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors show that self-group distancing is a coping response of low identified minority employees who experience social identity threat, which is similar to the Queen Bee phenomenon among women in the workplace.
Abstract: Previous research revealed that members of minority groups sometimes strategically distance themselves from their group by communicating negative views of this group, describing themselves according to outgroup stereotypes and supporting the illegitimate status hierarchy. Drawing upon recent work on the Queen Bee phenomenon among women in the workplace, we explain this ‘self-group distancing’ as a coping response of low identified minority employees who experience social identity threat. Whereas queen bee behavior is often discussed as a response typical for women, new experimental data are presented revealing similar responses among ethnic minority employees. In parallel to queen bees, low identified Hindustanis reported less positive ingroup affect and presented themselves as more stereotypically Dutch when reminded of ethnic bias - but not in a control condition. This suggests that the Queen Bee phenomenon exemplifies a more generic individual mobility response to social identity threat experienced by minority groups at work.
54 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine parental approval and disapproval messages and their impact on interracial couples and reveal the importance of parental approval messages and highlight the destructive nature of disapproval messages with regards to the interracial couple's face needs.
Abstract: Black and White interracial couples encounter societal and familial assessments that create additional tensions and conflict for their romantic relationship. This study examines parental approval and disapproval messages and their impact on interracial couples. Interdependence Theory and Facework provide the theoretical frameworks guiding this qualitative, interpretive examination. Thirty-eight individuals who represent 19 Black and White romantic pairs were each separately interviewed about their experiences as an interracial couple. Of particular interest is the communication of parental support or disapproval. Data were analyzed using Owen's (1984) thematic analysis procedures. Results reveal that interracial dyads both experience public disapproval and illustrate that not all couples experience parental disapproval. However, couples with dual parental approval were less bothered by negative outside experiences than were one-sided approval couples. Data also reveal the importance of parental approval messages and highlight the destructive nature of disapproval messages with regards to the interracial couple's face needs.
52 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a special issue illuminates the ways in which media portrayals and practices, together, create barriers to inclusion for diverse groups and normalize existing patterns of relegation on and off the screen.
Abstract: This special issue illuminates the ways in which media portrayals and practices, together, create barriers to inclusion for diverse groups and normalize existing patterns of relegation on and off the screen. Media representations of race and ethnicity have critical consequences for intergroup relationships and for marginalized group members’ self-concept. A synthesis of the research included in this volume demonstrates the significance of these questions across media outlets, their relevancy despite the rise of new technologies, and their application to social contexts outside the United States. Finally, this concluding article suggests directions for future research and offers implications for policies that can foster prosocial outcomes.
47 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that the prevailing view in psychology is that intergroup disadvantage poses a serious threat to psychological well-being, and they argue that this evidence is not as strong or unambiguous as is widely believed.
Abstract: A prevailing view in psychology is that intergroup disadvantage poses a serious threat to psychological well-being. Lower self-esteem and out-group favoritism are two of the most examined forms of psychological damage thought to follow from intergroup disadvantage. We review theory and research on lower self-esteem and out-group favoritism with close attention to the nature of the evidence suggesting that intergroup disadvantage is detrimental psychologically. We argue that this evidence is not as strong or unambiguous as is widely believed. This has likely led to an underestimation of psychological resistance to disadvantage—that middle ground between the extremes of surviving at subsistence levels of psychological well-being and confronting disadvantage. We propose that greater attention to the psychological meaning that the disadvantaged give their position enables a more accurate assessment of the diverse forms of psychological resistance to intergroup disadvantage.
TL;DR: This article used mediated contact and exemplification theories to demonstrate that reading news stories about likable outgroup media personalities who serve as counter-stereotypic exemplars can subtly modify racial attitudes, which are malleable and context sensitive.
Abstract: This article argues that exposure to admirable media celebrities from racial/ethnic outgroups is an effective, proactive, and viable strategy for prejudice reduction and intergroup harmony. It uses mediated contact and exemplification theories to demonstrate that reading news stories about likable outgroup media personalities who serve as counter-stereotypic exemplars can subtly modify racial attitudes, which are malleable and context-sensitive. Specifically, results from a between-participants experiment (N = 88) show that exposure to news stories about counter-stereotypic African American media personalities as compared to stereotypical ones reduces stereotypical perceptions and symbolic racist beliefs of White Americans about African Americans. Furthermore, these favorable attitudes translate into an increased willingness to support affirmative action policies.
TL;DR: The authors examined the affective and attitudinal reactions of Mexican and European Americans to stereotypic film clips of Latinos, finding that stereotypic films cue negative affect among Mexican Americans, regardless of the realism of the portrayals.
Abstract: Disadvantaged ethnic groups are often portrayed stereotypically in film, but little is known about how such portrayals affect members of those groups. Two experiments examined the affective and attitudinal reactions of Mexican and European Americans to stereotypic film clips of Latinos. Results of Study 1 revealed that stereotypic films cue negative affect among Mexican Americans, regardless of the realism of the portrayals. In Study 2, both Mexican and European Americans felt more self-conscious when another ingroup member openly laughed at negative Latino stereotypes in a comedy. Across both studies, the importance of ethnic identity exacerbated negative reactions to stereotypic clips and predicted somewhat more negative implicit group attitudes among Mexican Americans. In contrast, group pride mitigated affective costs and predicted greater enjoyment of stereotypical film clips among European Americans. The implications for the role of mass media in creating social identity threat for disadvantaged ethnic groups are discussed.
TL;DR: The U.S. government concluded that Japanese Americans had suffered a grave injustice and issued a written apology and monetary award to each surviving incarceree as discussed by the authors, which had enduring consequences for Japanese Americans.
Abstract: During World War II, the United States confined 120,000 Japanese Americans in incarceration camps based solely on their Japanese ancestry. Two thirds of those forced to live in the desolate camps were U.S. citizens. Decades later, the U.S. government concluded that Japanese Americans had suffered a grave injustice and issued a written apology and monetary award to each surviving incarceree. This article frames the incarceration as a race-based personal and cultural trauma that had enduring consequences for Japanese Americans. Critical impacts of this historic event on identity and postwar trauma coping among U.S.-born second generation Japanese American incarcerees and their offspring are described. We highlight how individual, intergenerational, and sociocultural processes interacted across decades to shape cultural trauma response and the movement to seek redress.
TL;DR: This article found evidence that positive contact with Black residents of an informal settlement in Pietermaritzburg was associated with Indian residents' support for political policies and forms of collective action that might improve conditions in that settlement.
Abstract: Racial segregation encourages members of historically advantaged groups to form negative intergroup attitudes, which then motivate practices of discrimination that sustain inequality and disadvantage. By implication, interventions designed to increase intergroup contact have been proposed as a means of reducing dominant group prejudices and promoting social change. In this article, we highlight another mechanism through which segregation shapes intergroup relations, namely, by inhibiting political solidarity between historically disadvantaged groups. Building on a field survey conducted in postapartheid South Africa, we demonstrate how challenging this form of segregation may reveal alternative mechanisms through which intergroup contact facilitates social change. Notably, we report evidence that positive contact with Black residents of an informal settlement in Pietermaritzburg was associated with Indian residents’ support for political policies and forms of collective action that might improve conditions in that settlement. In addition, we show that such support was partly mediated by perceptions of collective discrimination.
TL;DR: This paper examined the impact of such portrayals on consumers by investigating the relationship between viewer ethnicity, viewing Black criminal suspects in the news, and beliefs related to public policy, and found that ethnic minority group members who viewed a majority of Black criminals demonstrated significantly lower police support than other participants.
Abstract: Content analyses have consistently documented the disproportionate portrayal of Black Americans as criminals in the news. This experiment examines the impact of such portrayals on consumers by investigating the relationship between viewer ethnicity, viewing Black criminal suspects in the news, and beliefs related to public policy. Participants viewed a 30-minute local newscast containing crime stories featuring a majority of Black suspects, White suspects, or no crime stories. Those exposed to crime stories featuring a majority of Black suspects were more likely to rate a nondescript inmate as personally culpable (i.e., unable to be rehabilitated). An interaction between participant ethnicity and treatment condition revealed that ethnic minority group members who view a majority of Black criminals demonstrated significantly lower police support than other participants. These data suggest a complex relationship between exposure to Black crime, racial/ethnic-group membership, and crime-related perceptions and have implications for priming and spreading activation.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss conceptual and methodological concerns regarding research on interethnic marriage, examine interehnic marital relationship processes, especially through the lens of interdependence theory, and assess the clinical and policy implications for intra-thnic marriages.
Abstract: In this article, the editors address the topic of interethnic marriage within the United States. The editors begin by outlining five major objectives for the present edition (i.e., to discuss conceptual and methodological concerns regarding research on interethnic marriage; to examine interethnic marital relationship processes, especially through the lens of interdependence theory; to review attitudes toward interethnic marriage; to assess the clinical and policy implications for interethnic marriages; and to synthesize the contemporary scholarship on this still-pervasive topic), identifying those papers in which the respective sets of authors within the present edition address each of the objectives. Next, the editors review several previous studies dealing with intermarriage. Afterward, the editors provide an overview of interdependence theory, which they view as a general framework for studying interethnic marriage. Finally, the editors invite readers to join in exploring state-of-the-art theorizing and research on interethnic marriage, in this first-of-its-kind JSI edition on such a timely and important social issue.
TL;DR: This article examined the relation between group identification and support for radical action in disadvantaged groups and found that low identifiers are more willing than high identifiers to endorse radical action, while high identifiers were more concerned about how radical action could harm their social identity.
Abstract: Radical action against social disadvantage is highly consequential but has been far less studied than moderate collective action. But who supports such extreme actions and why? In two studies, we examine the relation between group identification and support for radical action in disadvantaged groups. Paradoxically, low identifiers are more willing than high identifiers to endorse radical action. We argue that high identifiers are more concerned about how radical action could harm their social identity than low identifiers. By contrast, low identifiers are more willing to confront the disadvantage by radical means, adopting a nothing-to-lose mindset. Consistent with this, support for radical action was strongest among low identifiers, especially when the in-group accepted the disadvantage as legitimate (creating a more desperate situation: Studies 1 and 2) and when they were not dependent on the out-group (and thus had nothing-to-lose: Study 2).
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the extent to which positive and negative maintenance communication predicted marital satisfaction and commitment in a sample of 90 individuals in an interracial marriage, using an interdependence theory approach.
Abstract: This study investigated the extent to which positive and negative maintenance communication predicted marital satisfaction and commitment in a sample of 90 individuals in an interracial marriage. An interdependence theory approach was used. Participants completed an online survey using SurveyMonkey's audience request. Results of a regression equation indicate that four maintenance activities predicted 52% of the variance in satisfaction, with two being negative predictors (infidelity and avoidance) and two being positive predictors (conflict management and social networks). Three maintenance behaviors predicted commitment, with infidelity and giving advice being negative predictors and the use of social networks being a positive predictor. Finally, consistent with interdependence theory, marital satisfaction fully mediated the relationship between maintenance activity and commitment.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the effect of a micro-finance intervention on psychological empowerment among women in the North of Sri Lanka and found that women who received training showed stronger effects than women who did not, illustrating the importance of training to capacitate women.
Abstract: This work examines the effect of a microfinance intervention on psychological empowerment among women in the North of Sri Lanka. Psychological empowerment is defined as personal (personal control beliefs) and social (social networks) capacity for action. The intervention included relevant skills training, saving acti-vities, and micro loans to eligible clients. In total, 88 women who had participated in the program for 12-18 months were randomly selected and compared with a matched control group (n = 84). As expected, women in the intervention group showed higher levels of personal control beliefs and reported a larger social network (indicators for personal and social capacity for action, respectively), compared to the control group. Importantly, women who received training showed stronger effects than women who did not, illustrating the importance of training to capacitate women. Implications for theory and practice of microfinance interventions designed to foster societal change toward gender equality are discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, a distinction is drawn between problems which are common to all couples (i.e., negotiating gender roles, poor communication, disagreements over financial management, and intimacy issues) and problems that are unique to interracial couples (e.g., managing societal disapproval, managing the effects of racial privilege).
Abstract: This article approaches the topic of intimate interracial relations from a clinical perspective. Throughout this article, we use the term “interracial” relationships, which refers to partners’ different racial categories defined by their physical and biological characteristics. This term falls under the larger umbrella of “interethnic” relationships, which refers to differences in partners’ cultural heritage as well as biological characteristics. Different racialized histories and experiences set interracial couples apart from other dyads, and can influence the types of problems that they encounter in their relationships. Given the challenging history of intergroup relations between races, a distinction is drawn between problems which are common to all couples (i.e., negotiating gender roles, poor communication, disagreements over financial management, and intimacy issues) and problems that are unique to interracial couples (i.e., managing societal disapproval, managing the effects of racial privilege). The utility of interdependence theory in furthering understanding of the problems that may arise in interracial relationships is examined. We argue that this theoretical model does not sufficiently address external casual conditions which are a primary source of the unique problems faced by interracial couples.
TL;DR: This paper used a social identity-based cultivation approach to investigate the influence of English and Spanish-language television exposure in the United States on Latinos' perceptions of intergroup relations and found that Latinos' English language television exposure was associated with perceptions of discrimination against Latinos and perceptions of the legitimacy of such treatment.
Abstract: This study utilized a social identity-based cultivation approach to investigate the influence of English and Spanish-language television exposure in the United States on Latinos’ perceptions of intergroup relations. Although research has examined the influence of television on Whites’ perceptions of nondominant racial and ethnic groups, little empirical research exists assessing the influence of television on nondominant group members’ (e.g., Latinos’) race-related perceptions. To help fill this gap, a survey of Latino Americans (N = 209) was conducted. Results indicated that Latinos’ English-language television exposure was associated with perceptions of discrimination against Latinos and perceptions of the legitimacy of such treatment. Endorsement of English-language television portrayals and exposure to Spanish-language television moderated these relationships.
TL;DR: This paper assessed the mnemonic impact of the collapse of the Soviet Union in Russia, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan and found that the Collapse was almost never used as a temporal landmark, it was rarely included in timeline drawings and participants did not experience the collapse as a major life-changing event.
Abstract: It can be argued that the Collapse of the Soviet Union was the most important historical event of the past 50 years This study assessed the mnemonic impact of this event in Russia, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan It involved three tasks First, participants thought aloud as dated autobiographical events Second, they drew a personal timeline Finally, they answered questions concerning the psychological and material consequences of the Collapse Across the samples, we found (1) the Collapse was almost never used as a temporal landmark, (2) it was rarely included in timeline drawings, and (c) participants did not experience the Collapse as a major life-changing event These findings argue against the Proportionality Assumption—the notion that the mnemonic impact of a public event is related to its historical importance Instead, they suggest that historically significant events play an important role in autobiographical memory only when they dramatically affect people's material circumstances
TL;DR: This article examined individuals' concern for the ingroup when they move from a socially disadvantaged inherited background (in terms of gender, ethnicity, and nationality) to a higher social standing through individual achievement.
Abstract: This research examines individuals' concern for the ingroup when they move from a socially disadvantaged inherited background (in terms of gender, ethnicity, and nationality) to a higher social standing through individual achievement. Studies 1– 2 show that the status inconsistency between the disadvantaged and the achieved groups undermines concern for the disadvantaged ingroup. Studies 3–4 demon- strate that this lower concern for the ingroup is concomitant with maintaining the identification with the low-status ingroup and the increase of the identification with the achieved group. These findings suggest that low concern for the ingroup is not explained by a decrease in identification with the disadvantaged, but rather by an increase in identification with the high-status group.
TL;DR: The authors examined power dynamics in conversations about history facilitated according to distinct social psychological theories and found that dialogue facilitated in the confrontational condition suggested a pattern of Palestinian dominance, consistent with a collective action model.
Abstract: Groups in conflict routinely use historical narrative to compete for status in intergroup encounters. This study examines power dynamics in conversations about history facilitated according to distinct social psychological theories. Israeli and Palestinian youth participating in an existing intergroup contact program were randomly assigned to either a (1) coexistence condition consistent with a prejudice reduction model in which the goal was to foster the construction of a common in-group identity, or (2) a confrontational condition consistent with a collective action model in which the goal was to raise awareness about identities and empower the low-status group. Dialogue facilitated in the coexistence condition reproduced power asymmetries, with a pattern of Jewish Israeli dominance. Dialogue facilitated in the confrontational condition suggested a pattern of Palestinian dominance, consistent with a collective action model. Findings are discussed in terms of theoretical approaches to intergroup contact and dialogue about history among groups in intractable conflict.
TL;DR: This article found that women expect to engage in both individual and collective strategies in response to a sexist statement, even if that involves disparaging the ingroup, and perceived group homogeneity uniquely increased agreement with the sexist statement and endorsement of inaction.
Abstract: Within the social identity tradition, individual and collective responses to social disadvantage are typically seen as mutually exclusive. This study (N = 120) provides a more nuanced understanding of individual and collective responses to social disadvantage by examining the ways in which women anticipate responding to “daily sexism.” We test how responses are independently related to ingroup identification, disidentification, and perceived ingroup homogeneity. Results show that women favor confronting sexism over inaction, even if that involves disparaging the ingroup. Specifically, women expect to engage in both individual and collective strategies in response to a sexist statement. Identification with women was positively associated with both collective and individual (nongroup disparaging) responses, but only collective responses related to broader intentions to engage in collective action for social change. Finally, perceived group homogeneity uniquely increased agreement with the sexist statement, endorsement of inaction, and group-disparaging responses. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
TL;DR: Focusing on the Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Chile, the authors examines the intersection of psychology and history as they bear on conflict, memory, and justice The museum commemorates victims of mass detentions, disappearances, and human rights violations during the Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1990).
Abstract: Focusing on the Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Chile, this article examines the intersection of psychology and history as they bear on conflict, memory, and justice The museum commemorates victims of mass detentions, disappearances, and human rights violations during the Pinochet dictatorship (1973–1990) This article discusses historical precursors to the coup, including United States involvement in Chilean politics Utilizing the construct, scope of justice, it discusses representations of moral exclusion and moral inclusion in the museum's exhibition Museum professionals who developed the exhibition describe the challenges of their work because opposing political perspectives about the dictatorship persist The article suggests that historical museums on injustice can serve as sites that engage such clashing viewpoints Surfacing narratives and counternarratives about the past and airing tensions and haunting questions can offer insight into social issues, policies, and conflicts that persist today
TL;DR: This paper examined the definitions of race used in discussing interracial marriage, arguing that the common framework of "cultural differences" used in existing literature insufficiently describes the range of experiences in inter-racial marriage.
Abstract: This article examines the definitions of “race” used in discussing interracial marriage, arguing that the common framework of “cultural differences” used in existing literature insufficiently describes the range of experiences in interracial marriage. By redefining race as a process of classification that is neither about cultural nor biological “difference,” we use racial formation theory to examine racial identity within interracial marriages and how racial identity might be reclassified as a function of interracial marriage status (i.e., comparing oneself to a different racial group). Finally, we discuss individual-level implications with respect to how interdependence theory affects racial identity and marital quality in interracial marriages.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors consider the relationship between individual mobility, collective action, and social change, and discuss different forms of equality as a means to conceptualizing social change and consider alternative perspectives on classifying and studying social change.
Abstract: The articles in this special issue challenge readers to reconsider the relationships among individual mobility, collective action, and social change. Taken together, they reveal an increasing and broadening interest in the concept of social change and raise important questions about its societal applications. In this commentary, we expand on this rich body of research by considering how surface indicators of (lack of) social change such as individual versus collective action may be related to a wider range of motives than has been assumed. Moreover, we consider more carefully what constitutes social change, and discuss different forms of equality as a means to conceptualizing social change. In doing so, we attempt to move beyond implied dichotomies between individual and collective strategies and actions to consider alternative perspectives on classifying and studying social change.