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You are what you wear. Most of us know appearances matter in first impressions, but recent research shows that clothing can tap into pretty stark racial stereotypes.
Thirty-four subjects—almost all white or Asian—looked at digital faces. They had to decide with an instant mouse click whether the face was black or white. Each of the 16 different faces was morphed along a continuum from white to black. And each face was on a body wearing either a business suit or a janitor’s jumpsuit.
The subjects mostly chose white when a medium hued face was coupled with a business suit. The janitor outfit made people think the same face was black.
But subjects assigned the most ambiguous faces as black regardless of clothing. Other studies have also found that people will categorize anyone of mixed race as belonging to the social group of lower status.
The researchers also analyzed mouse trajectories. Subjects who chose white as the race for a janitor first hovered toward the black choice. And when they chose black for a face wearing a business suit they hovered first toward the white choice. More evidence that racial issues aren’t black and white.
—Christie Nicholson
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]
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8 Comments
Add Commentlol talk about a pointless and skewed study with the single purpose of yet again making it seem Caucasians and Asians are evil racists, just waiting to enslave everyone else. Why only business suits and a janitor? Why not prison wear, how about women and dresses. Since business or employment attire is not a social choice, try casual wear. And of course, why only Caucasians and Asians? There are many racial backgrounds but then we know the bias here, the study doesn't want to create any evidence that demonstrates african americans or latin races are just as bigoted and racist as any other group or worse, finding data that proves those two minorities are more racist than anyone else. Then of course, classification of people so broadly is ridiculous. Asian, which ones? There is a whole lot of difference between someone who is japanese or malaysian or chinese. All have different cultures and there for different biases. Where they born in the USA or immigrant, which makes a difference as well. The same with Caucasians, a Polish, German or Irish immigrant will have a different set of prejudices than the same racial backgrounds born and raised here in the US. Also, what area of the US. Caucasians in California are quite different from the ones in New England or the South for example and the same is true for every other race in each region.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAlso, the study itself is biased. I don't know what planet these people live on but I have never seen black or white skin on a human being. Maybe if you liberal so called "scientists" and your government backers would stop promoting racism with labels like black, white, asian, hispanic we would not have any racial problems.
Ridiculous. Get over it, racism is on its deathbed and has been for a couple decades at least. It started dying when the democrat created segregation and affirmative action were removed. Most people judge others on merit and character. The only racism still left is the government promoted racism, such as having to identify your race to the government.
Here is a new one, try doing a study on the positive improvements made to alter the country so much that it produced an african american/caucasian president. Then maybe with data showing the successes, it will encourage even more success in getting everyone to treat each other as individuals.
Maybe you missed the point. People can't tell, that's why the outfit was used.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisFirst, I check to see if I think the person is truthful. Take the whole package...make a guess. I'm about 80 percent right.
@ priddseren--
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDon't be silly. The only black presidents are in the movies made by Hollywood liberals. The US is too racist to elect a black man.
It is a fairly one sided study like @priddseren said. Whites and Asians used for the study seems ridiculous. Sounds like the so called scientists are trying to start a war. Retry the study using all races and classes inside the pictures and those taking the study then come back and tell me who is prejudice.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisNo body could have said that better and we all are aware why articles like this is popping up around election time. And "Bops", we didn't miss the point; we get it. We are not as stupid as you White Republicans think we are, and we Whites (and I am half Shawnee/White) and Asians are not as racist as you think we are. President Obama was the first candidate I ever contributed money to because he has been there and lived through the hate and racism and he will stop it if we can get the racist white republicans back under control and keep people like Bush, Perry, and Romney, who think if they are seen hanging out with a token black, woman or Mexican people will not know that they are racist or prejudice, out of office, this country can bounce back to its greatness of the many diverse cultures we have always enjoyed and thrived from. Articles like this is a blight on our American way of life and we cannot allow these kind of articles continue to pull the wool over the eyes of the unknowing/unseeing people.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe study group was nearly all white and Asian because this was probably done on a university campus.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIf so, the group is limited in racial diversity, but also in economic makeup. These are probably some more affluent kids.
Now, I would guess that a more diverse group might still come to the same conclusion, since disadvantaged minorities absorb the same prejudices against themselves (e.g., black children who prefer white dolls).
I'm surprised that advisors would pass on a study like this. I agree that it most likely began with a predetermined conclusion that would "prove" racism on one side and victimization on the other. I wonder if anyone gets fooled by this stuff anymore?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI agree totally. This just looks like a cheap excuse for a Phd. and a paper reference for all, including the supervisor. For shame; and no wonder why some of my Chinese prep schools actually ruled out some Amerikan unis and considered their degrees were not likely to be considered
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisreal'. Luckily, I found a student to research Aussie vs Abo relationships. Let some of these easy beat grad students ask the same questions under 48C heat!
Regards
TKerr
how sad.