A recently published book seeks to shed light on the stark differences in perception of what constitutes "racist" or "sexist" behavior between White liberals and White conservatives.
The book, titled "Is it Racist? Is it Sexist?: Why Red and Blue White People Disagree, and How to Decide in the Gray Areas," is the brainchild of sociologists Jessi Streib and Betsy Leondar-Wright. The authors embarked on a mission to understand the reasoning behind the judgments made by White voters on these contentious issues.
According to Fox News, the authors conducted interviews with dozens of White voters, presenting them with both real and hypothetical scenarios. The participants were then asked to determine whether the situation or individual in question was "racist" or "sexist."
The hypothetical scenarios ranged from a male patient mistaking a female doctor for a nurse to a White police officer shooting a Black teenager, who was merely holding a cell phone, under the mistaken belief that it was a firearm.
The authors also incorporated real-life incidents into their research. One such incident was when President Trump, in 2017, demanded that the NFL "get that son of a b---- off the field," in reference to NFL players who knelt during the National Anthem in protest, following the lead of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
The research for the book involved 127 participants, aged between 35 and 59, hailing from various social classes and regions across the country. The authors used digital flyers posted in non-political online groups to invite participants to a general survey about American beliefs. The participants, who were unaware of the survey's topic, were compensated for their time spent in a 2-hour interview.
Leondar-Wright, in a conversation with Fox News Digital, revealed that the inspiration to write the book came during the first term of President Trump, amidst the growing backlash against the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements. As sociologists, the authors were intrigued by the widening partisan divide among White voters on these issues.
Their research led them to categorize people into two broad groups: the "acquitters" and the "convictors." Acquitters, who are typically conservative, approach allegations of racism and sexism on a case-by-case basis, employing an "investigative" method and exploring alternative explanations before concluding. On the other hand, convictors, who are generally liberal, notice societal patterns and analyze situations involving race and sex through an "algorithmic" method, often siding with the accuser.
Leondar-Wright suggested that both groups could benefit from learning from each other's methods. She argued that acquitters should acknowledge the patterns of racial and gender disparity prevalent in various sectors, including healthcare, housing, criminal justice, K-12 education, pay scales, religious treatment, and family responsibilities. Conversely, convictors could learn from the acquitters' investigative approach, as they sometimes make incorrect judgments due to a lack of questioning.
The authors propose a "surveyor" approach, which involves not making snap judgments based on a single incident but looking for patterns of behavior before making a final judgment. Leondar-Wright emphasized that everyone will face these scenarios at some point, and both convictors and acquitters should listen to each other respectfully and avoid making assumptions about those they disagree with.
Leondar-Wright, who identifies as a "convictor," admitted that her interactions with acquitters during the book's research challenged her biases against those with differing political views. She was particularly surprised by the frequency with which even the most conservative individuals stood up against racism or sexism in their personal lives.
She recounted the story of a conservative woman named Alice who took in and raised her Black friend's daughter after her friend was incarcerated. When Alice's mother displayed racist behavior towards the girl, Alice chose to sever ties with her mother to protect her foster daughter.
Leondar-Wright confessed that she hadn't expected someone with Alice's beliefs to take such a strong stand against racism. These conversations, she said, were "encouraging."
"I do think there's a lot of racism and racial inequality in our society and a lot of gender inequality. And so I'd like to help move people in the direction of seeing those patterns, those disparities," she told Fox News Digital. "I ended up a lot less hopeless about how possible that is than I was when I started out." This statement underscores the importance of open dialogue and understanding in bridging the ideological divide on issues of racism and sexism.
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