UCI sociologist studies effects of social status on perceptions of race
UCI sociologist studies effects of social status on perceptions of race
- September 28, 2009
- Study is funded by recent $35,000 grant from the Russell Sage Foundation
In a study published in the December issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, sociologists Andrew Penner, UCI, and Aliya Saperstein, University of Oregon, found
that over time, changes in a person's social status - such as income level, employment
status and incarceration status - alter both the way people racially categorize themselves
and others. Read their full report online at http://www.pnas.org/content/105/50/19628.full?sid=8fa6c3d3-1c21-4fe3-8663-272211364055.
With a recently awarded $35,000 grant from the Russell Sage Foundation, Penner and
Saperstein are expanding the study to explore how thinking about race as changeable
provides insight into inequality.
"While most people think of race as something that is fixed and unchanging, our research
shows this is not the case," he says. "By recognizing that perceptions of race are
fluid and connected to stereotypes about social status, we hope to be able to explain
some of reasons that racial inequality persists in today's society and inform policies
aimed at addressing it."
The one year study began in spring 2009. Detailed findings on effects of incarceration
on racial categorization are forth-coming in the February issue of the journal Social Problems.
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