GENDER AND RACIAL DIVERSITY
DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
• Our world is very diverse, and Utah is becoming
more diverse. Before you start working with diverse
populations, you should understand that:
• There are differences.
• We overgeneralize these differences and create
stereotypes.
• We have a tendency to ignore similarities and stress the
differences.
• We attach relative value to the stereotypes.
• We then generalize these evaluations to members of the
populations and believe the differences are innate.
GENDER AND RACIAL DIVERSITY
DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
• An Example
• There are differences – African American males are more likely to commit
crimes.
• We overgeneralize these differences and create stereotypes – African
American males are criminals.
• We have a tendency to ignore similarities and stress the differences – We
ignore the fact that middle class African American males and middle class
White American males living in the same area are equally likely to commit
crimes.
• We attach relative value to the stereotypes. It is worse to be a criminal
than to conform.
• We then generalize these evaluations to members of the populations and
believe the differences are innate. All African American males are bad
because they are criminals. They are criminals, because they are African
American.
GENDER AND RACIAL DIVERSITY
DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
• Who holds these stereotypes?
• We do – often unconsciously.
• Members of the minority groups often internalize stereotypes
including the negative stereotypes attached to their own
group.
• Members of majority groups often internalize stereotypes.
GENDER AND RACIAL DIVERSITY
DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
• How do we overcome the tendency to stereotype?
• Be consciously aware of our own biases. The first step is to
recognize and acknowledge their existence.
• Remind ourselves that different can be just that – different – not
better or worse.
• Remind ourselves that humans are ONE race. While each
person is different, we are much more alike, than we are
unalike.
• Negate stereotypes whenever we can. For instance,
stereotypes are often transmitted through jokes. We need to
correct those who are telling these jokes.
OUR GENDER STEREOTYPES ARE SO ENGRAINED
THAT WE EVEN “GENDER” INANIMATE OBJECTS.
A
Can you
categorize these
objects as male or
female?
For instance, which
car is male, and
which is female?
Which house is
male and which is
female?
Which smiley face is
male and which is
female?
B
THIS TENDENCY TO GENDER INANIMATE
OBJECTS IS PERVASIVE.
A
We even
categories some
animals as male
and others as
female –
although
obviously they
are both male
and female.
B
WE GENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
A
B
Male or
female?
Our children wear
gendered colored
clothing
ALTHOUGH SOME SPORTS ARE NOW GENDER
NEUTRAL, WE OFTEN GENDER SPORTS..
A
B
THE PLANTS WE PLANT, THE FOOD WE EAT, AND THE TYPES OF
CLOTHES WE WEAR ARE OFTEN CLASSIFIED AS MALE OR
FEMALE
A
B
WE THINK OF DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AS
MASCULINE OR FEMININE
A
B
Even some letters are perceived
as feminine or masculine.
MOST PEOPLE CAN CLASSIFY THE HATS WE
WEAR AND THE APPLIANCES WE USE AS MALE
OR FEMALE.
A
B
EVEN THE TOYS WE GIVE OUR
CHILDREN ARE GENDERED.
B
A
Blocks are often
seen as male or
female
CERTAINLY WE GENDER
OCCUPATIONS
A
Cook
Building Construction
Secretary
Child Care Provider
Principal
Nurse
Football Player
Staff
Psychology Professor
Social Work Major
B
Restaurant Owner
Interior Designer
CEO
Coach
Kindergarten Teacher
Doctor
Figure Skater
Faculty
Engineering Professor
Business Major
GENDER STEREOTYPES – WHICH DO WE VALUE
MOST – OR ARE THEY JUST DIFFERENT?
Male Are
Females Are
Strong
Stoic
Leaders
Rational
Assertive
Loud
Competitive
Weak
Emotional
Followers
Irrational
Passive
Soft
Cooperative
RACIAL STEREOTYPES
• We also have stereotypes associated with different
racial groups.
• These stereotypes are valued differently relative to
each other.
• The evaluation of the stereotype tends to diffuse
over the entire group.
• The language we use reflects, and reinforce these
stereotypes and their relative value.
RACIST STEREOTYPES
WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH BLACK ARE DEFINED
NEGATIVELY
• Black and White Words
Word
Definition
Blackly
Blacken
Black eye
Blackballed
Black outlook
Black mark
Black sheep
Blacklist
Blackmail
angrily
defame
mark of shame
ostracized
pessimistic
detrimental fact
one who causes shame
list of undesirables
Force or coerce
RACIST STEREOTYPES
WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH WHITE ARE DEFINED
POSITIVELY
• Black and White Words
Word
Definition
White
Whiten
White Wash
White House
White House
White Lie
White wedding dress
pure
brighten, clean
cover imperfections
President’s house
executive branch of the government
small, innocent lie
depicts a virgin bride, innocent
HISTORICALLY, “LOADED” WORDS REFLECTED THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GROUPS AND WERE
BIASED TOWARD THE MAJORITY GROUP
• Columbus discovered America and conquered
the savages.
• Native Americans massacred the soldiers.
• The soldiers conquered the Indians.
• Settlers defended their lands.
THE SAME STORIES COULD HAVE BEEN TOLD
LIKE THIS:
• Columbus found America and exploited the
Indigenous population.
• Native Americans conquered the soldiers.
• The soldiers massacred the Indians.
• Settlers forcibly took away their lands.
DESCRIPTORS ARE ALSO REVEALING.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Squaws – not women
Tribes – not nations
Savages – not people
Beasts – not humans
Backward – not different
Primitive – not different
Buck – not man
WHEN RACIAL GROUPS “SPEAK” ENGLISH IN
MOVIES OR BOOKS, THEY ARE OFTEN RIDICULED.
• Asian Characters say,
•
•
•
•
“Honorable so and so”
“Confucius say”
“Very solly”
“Flied lice”
• Native Americans Characters say
• “Boy not hide, Indian take boy”
• “Heap big”
• “UGH or HOW”
POLITICALLY CORRECT TERMS
• There is debate about “politically correct”
language.
• Some say using these terms can inhibit
interaction/communication as politically correct
terms change and people scramble to know what
is politically correct
• Some say that the terms change as these terms
become associated with negative stereotypes. It is
important that we resist using terms that divide,
devalue and stereotype.
TERMS WE USE
Terms we USE
Suggested Terms
Culturally deprived
Culturally dispossessed
Economically Disadvantaged
Economically Exploited
Underdeveloped
Overexploited
Non-white
People of Color
Minority
Third World
Disabled
People with Disabilities
BOTTOM LINE (S)
• We can tell a person’s race and gender almost immediately.
• People are different.
• We often take these differences and overgeneralize them to a
racial or gender group. We stereotype.
• We value stereotypes differently.
• These valuations diffuse over all the members of the group.
• The language we use reflects and reinforces these
stereotypes.
BOTTOM LINE(S)
• When interacting with members of diverse groups,
we need to be conscious of the words we use.
• We need to chose words that do not reinforce
stereotypes – but may reflect diversity.
• We need to remember that different groups will
perceive words differently.
• Bottom Line—Remember words are powerful.
• Use them carefully.
CONTACT INFORMATION
• Dr. Carol Albrecht
• Assessment Specialist USU Ext
• carol.albrecht@usu.edu
• (979) 777-2421