Abstract
To date, research has primarily focused on the colorblind norms and
behaviors of majority-White participants in majority-White contexts.
Extending this work to more diverse samples and contexts, across four
studies we examine whether colorblind norms link to the colorblind
behavior of racially diverse participants living in a racially diverse (i.e.,
heterogeneous) context. Findings suggest that participants living in a
racially diverse context did not endorse colorblind beliefs (Study 1) and
norms (Study 2) and instead behave in race-conscious ways and
overwhelmingly use race in a photo-identification task. Furthermore, in
Study 3 we find that colorblind norms are largely activated by the belief
that talking about race is prejudiced. When participants were exposed to
a social norm that linked talking about race to prejudice, colorblind
behavior became more prevalent. Finally, in Study 4, we see that greater
diversity of one’s context is correlated to less endorsement of
colorblindness.
behaviors of majority-White participants in majority-White contexts.
Extending this work to more diverse samples and contexts, across four
studies we examine whether colorblind norms link to the colorblind
behavior of racially diverse participants living in a racially diverse (i.e.,
heterogeneous) context. Findings suggest that participants living in a
racially diverse context did not endorse colorblind beliefs (Study 1) and
norms (Study 2) and instead behave in race-conscious ways and
overwhelmingly use race in a photo-identification task. Furthermore, in
Study 3 we find that colorblind norms are largely activated by the belief
that talking about race is prejudiced. When participants were exposed to
a social norm that linked talking about race to prejudice, colorblind
behavior became more prevalent. Finally, in Study 4, we see that greater
diversity of one’s context is correlated to less endorsement of
colorblindness.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Group Processes and Intergroup Relations |
| Early online date | 10 Apr 2021 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 10 Apr 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by SPSSI grant-in-aids awarded to the first and second author.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.
Keywords
- colorblindness
- race
- social norms
- racial diversity