SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONS OF THE NONPREJUDICED WHITE SELF

    Authors

    S. K. Carter;F. I. Rivera

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Stud. Symb. Interact.

    Keywords

    SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS; RACE; ATTITUDES; OPPOSITION; RACISM; DISCRIMINATION; PREJUDICE; EDUCATION; IDEOLOGY; AMERICAN; Sociology

    Abstract

    Previous research indicates that racial and ethnic prejudice continues to be prevalent in U.S. society; however, the social-psychological processes of prejudice are not fully understood. Furthermore, much research on prejudice focuses on white against black prejudice, at the exclusion of other minority groups. The purpose of this chapter is to explore white prejudice against Latinos using in-depth interview data with college students. Findings indicate that many participants describe instances in which they felt prejudice, yet they use creative mechanisms to justify their prejudice or construct it as something other than prejudice. Mostly, participants described their own prejudice as a "special type" of prejudice - including trait prejudice, situational prejudice, reciprocal prejudice, and recovered prejudice - that is distinct from ordinary prejudice. By describing their own prejudice as a "special type," participants are able to construct themselves as nonprejudiced individuals while simultaneously acknowledging their prejudice.

    Journal Title

    Studies in Symbolic Interaction, Vol 37

    Volume

    37

    Publication Date

    1-1-2011

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    111

    Last Page

    133

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000310247100006

    ISSN

    0163-2396; 978-1-78052-156-5

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