(1) This exercise is designed to indicate the extent to which members of society have biases that they do not explicitly recognize. Go to the Implicit Association Test and "continue as a guest (you do not need to register). After clicking 'Go,' read the preliminary information and then, after reading the disclaimer, click on "I wish to proceed." You will then be presnted with 14 different "tests:, each taking approximately 10 minutes. You will choose three (3) tests - one focusing upon race matters (either Race IAT, Native-IAT, Asian IAT, Skin-Tone IAT, Arab-Muslim IAT, Weapons IAT), the second on issues of gender (Sexuality IAT, Gender-Career IAT, Gender-Science IAT) and a third on issues of age and appearance (Age IAT, Disability IAT, weight IAT). After you have finished the test a results page will appear indicating whether you have an “implicit” or hidden bias and, if so, whether it is strong, moderate, or weak. More important, the results page will present a frequency distribution of all the scores of tests that have been taken by others visiting this site.
First, summarize and then discuss the implications of the data presented for all of the test-takers – I am not interested in your score. Do you find the resukts surprising? How might these findings affect programs that attempt to reduce the extent to which bias and prejudice exist in society?
Second, read Peggy McIntosh's “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”. After reading her article, look at her list of "white privileges" and consider whether you agree with the statement, disagree with the statement, or think that the statement is not applicable to your life. Provide three examples of how you think members of different racial categories might answer differently.
Third, read Robert Jensen's, "White Privilege Shapes the U.S." and "More thoughts on why the system of white privilege is wrong". Summarize and evaluate the arguments made by McIntosh and Jensen concerning "white privilege" and discuss how the findings from the implicit association test relate to their positions.
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(2) Pew Research Center Poll: Black - White Relations in the U.S.
Socially patterned differences in the perception of social situations and circumstances are a common occurrence. For this assignment, you will examine data from the Pew Research Center about race relations and compare the responses of white and black samples. After examining these responses, you will discuss the implications of these different perceptions of what are seemingly “the same” events and situations.
Provide a sociological explanation for the divergent views of these different groups. How can race relations be improved if the parties involved have fundamentally different views of the same events and circumstances?
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(3) Stereotypes and the Portrayals of Minority Groups in Popular Culture
How have minorities been portrayed in popular culture and the mass media? What caricatures and stereotypes have appeared over time? What is their purpose? What impact do they have? Examine the web pages listed below. You will choose three cases to discuss. First, summarize the depictions of each category of people. What was the purpose of these depictions? How have these images shaped the beliefs and attitudes of members of the dominant group and of the subordinate groups towards each other? What are the similarities and differences in the depictions of the three groups you have chosen? To what extent do similar images of these groups exist in contemporary society?
Virtual Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia
Stereoypes of the Irish
Stereotypes of Jewish People
Stereotypes of East Asians in the US
Old 'Yellow Peril' Anti-Chinese Posters
Visualizing Otherness - Nazi and Other Use of Visual Representation
Visualizing Otherness - Racist and Discriminatory Views of Afro-Americans in Popular Culture
Visualizing Otherness - Native Americans
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(4) Hate on the Web
Investigate and analyze hate on the internet.
Go to the "Intelligence Project" of the Southern Povery Law Center. Read the cover page, then go to "News" (located as a link in the left-hand column). Summarize three stories presented. What social factors help explain the existence of these phenonena?
Next, click on the "Hate Groups Map" (also located as a link in the left-hand column). Choose three states and write a “sociologically informed” opinion of the materials you have found.
