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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2014/may/29/racist-racism-study-uk
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Everyone’s a little bit racist, sometimes | Everyone’s a little bit racist, sometimes |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| There have been many | There have been many |
| reports this | reports this |
| week that racism is on the rise in the UK, referring to the latest | week that racism is on the rise in the UK, referring to the latest |
| British Social Attitudes survey. However, as is often the case when the | British Social Attitudes survey. However, as is often the case when the |
| media have to interpret a complex study, the conclusions seem more concerned | |
| with sensationalism and publicity than accuracy. So, does the report reveal | with sensationalism and publicity than accuracy. So, does the report reveal |
| that the UK as a country is sliding back into the days when racial prejudice | that the UK as a country is sliding back into the days when racial prejudice |
| was the norm? | was the norm? |
| No, it doesn’t. While many stories do point to what looks | No, it doesn’t. While many stories do point to what looks |
| like a clear rise in prejudice since 2011, this doesn’t justify headlines | like a clear rise in prejudice since 2011, this doesn’t justify headlines |
| that trumpet the claim “Britain is more racist!” Claims that the data shows a “decade | |
| long rise in racism” are even more dubious. A closer look reveals why. | long rise in racism” are even more dubious. A closer look reveals why. |
| Firstly, the official | Firstly, the official |
| report of the survey shows that, while there is an increase in self-reported | report of the survey shows that, while there is an increase in self-reported |
| racial prejudice in recent years compared with the lowest levels recorded, we’re | |
| still well below the highest levels recorded. Also, although overall levels are | still well below the highest levels recorded. Also, although overall levels are |
| up since 2012, they’re much lower than 2011. So there was a big drop in | up since 2012, they’re much lower than 2011. So there was a big drop in |
| self-reported prejudice two years ago. I don’t recall any publicity about this. | |
| Not sure why this would be. | Not sure why this would be. |
| Then there’s the way the data is processed. The title of | Then there’s the way the data is processed. The title of |
| this blog is a lyric from the classic | this blog is a lyric from the classic |
| song from Avenue Q of the same name. The song is a surprisingly insightful | song from Avenue Q of the same name. The song is a surprisingly insightful |
| send-up of the fact that essentially everyone has some inherent prejudice, | send-up of the fact that essentially everyone has some inherent prejudice, |
| often without realising. There are many reasons why someone might exhibit a | often without realising. There are many reasons why someone might exhibit a |
| form of prejudice; social background, lack of or negative experience, fear | form of prejudice; social background, lack of or negative experience, fear |
| of change or difference, even being tired (apparently). | of change or difference, even being tired (apparently). |
| There are many psychological | There are many psychological |
| and/or sociological | and/or sociological |
| factors that can lead to someone demonstrating prejudice of some description, | factors that can lead to someone demonstrating prejudice of some description, |
| and people can demonstrate a wide variety. | |
| However, the report freely admits that “self-reported racial | However, the report freely admits that “self-reported racial |
| prejudice” includes people who describe themselves as both “very” prejudiced and “a | |
| little” prejudiced. While helpful for establishing patterns and trends that this | |
| survey is looking for, this does end up suggesting that prejudice is a binary | survey is looking for, this does end up suggesting that prejudice is a binary |
| quality; you are or you aren’t prejudiced against different races. There’s no | quality; you are or you aren’t prejudiced against different races. There’s no |
| middle-ground. Ergo, someone who admits to being annoyed by shops that play Bhangra | middle-ground. Ergo, someone who admits to being annoyed by shops that play Bhangra |
| music would be classed as the same as someone who has swastika tattoos on | music would be classed as the same as someone who has swastika tattoos on |
| their eyelids and thinks apartheid | their eyelids and thinks apartheid |
| was the best thing ever. | was the best thing ever. |
| Undeniably, all forms of prejudice should be highlighted and | Undeniably, all forms of prejudice should be highlighted and |
| discouraged, but this level of generalisation means any conclusions drawn from | discouraged, but this level of generalisation means any conclusions drawn from |
| this data should be treated with some caution. | this data should be treated with some caution. |
| Also, the study relies upon “self-reported racial prejudice”. | Also, the study relies upon “self-reported racial prejudice”. |
| Ergo, the study only shows people who admit to exhibiting racial prejudice. | Ergo, the study only shows people who admit to exhibiting racial prejudice. |
| Whatever you think of the current state of racism in the UK, one thing that seems to be unanimous is the view that | |
| prejudice is a bad thing. That in itself is something to be reassured about, I | |
| guess. That’s why opponents to things like same-sex marriage came up with endless | guess. That’s why opponents to things like same-sex marriage came up with endless |
| excuses as to why it shouldn’t be allowed, rather than just admit “we don’t | excuses as to why it shouldn’t be allowed, rather than just admit “we don’t |
| like gay people”. The most right-wing politicians can be sacked | like gay people”. The most right-wing politicians can be sacked |
| by their party for demonstrable racism, and even the rich | by their party for demonstrable racism, and even the rich |
| and powerful aren’t allowed to get away with it. As a result of this, the | and powerful aren’t allowed to get away with it. As a result of this, the |
| first thing those who seem to have genuine racist tendencies do is deny it. This | first thing those who seem to have genuine racist tendencies do is deny it. This |
| is so common that it’s widely acknowledged that any sentence that begins with “I’m | is so common that it’s widely acknowledged that any sentence that begins with “I’m |
| not racist, but…” is going to end up being very racist. | not racist, but…” is going to end up being very racist. |
| Admitting to being racially prejudiced is admitting you’re | Admitting to being racially prejudiced is admitting you’re |
| wrong about something, and it’s often the most prejudiced who | wrong about something, and it’s often the most prejudiced who |
| will deny being so. This is another thing that could be distorting the | will deny being so. This is another thing that could be distorting the |
| survey data. | survey data. |
| There are also no specifics given as to how the subjects | |
| taking part define “other races”. Despite what some | taking part define “other races”. Despite what some |
| may claim, there appears to be no scientific rationale for | may claim, there appears to be no scientific rationale for |
| race-based differences beyond the superficial, so how individuals may | race-based differences beyond the superficial, so how individuals may |
| define “other races” is anyone’s guess. They may deny any form of prejudice | define “other races” is anyone’s guess. They may deny any form of prejudice |
| entirely due to not having any issue with black people, ignoring their inherent | entirely due to not having any issue with black people, ignoring their inherent |
| distrust of eastern Europeans, who are typically Caucasian. Some may consider | distrust of eastern Europeans, who are typically Caucasian. Some may consider |
| this a fair assessment, others may disagree entirely. The study may have taken | this a fair assessment, others may disagree entirely. The study may have taken |
| this into account, but this information is not provided. | this into account, but this information is not provided. |
| Also of potential importance, the study reports those who admit | Also of potential importance, the study reports those who admit |
| racial prejudice. It doesn’t say anything about behaviour motivated by this | racial prejudice. It doesn’t say anything about behaviour motivated by this |
| prejudice. Racism covers beliefs, | prejudice. Racism covers beliefs, |
| but also actions and practices. We have no idea if any of the people in the | but also actions and practices. We have no idea if any of the people in the |
| survey actually let their prejudices dictate their behaviour. The fact that | survey actually let their prejudices dictate their behaviour. The fact that |
| they’re aware of and admit to being prejudiced implies that they may not. The | they’re aware of and admit to being prejudiced implies that they may not. The |
| study could be showing us that there are more people in the UK who are willing | study could be showing us that there are more people in the UK who are willing |
| to admit to prejudice. | to admit to prejudice. |
| Given the choice between a country where people confess to | Given the choice between a country where people confess to |
| being prejudiced but don’t act on it and one where people deny any prejudice | being prejudiced but don’t act on it and one where people deny any prejudice |
| but regularly behave in ways that contradict this, I know which one I’d rather | |
| live in. It’s possible this “rise in racism” is actually a rise in awareness of | live in. It’s possible this “rise in racism” is actually a rise in awareness of |
| racism, which is arguably a good thing. | |
| This article isn’t meant to criticise or undermine the | This article isn’t meant to criticise or undermine the |
| research conducted, which is an impressively thorough job given the subject matter. | |
| They’ve used the best options available to study a sensitive, uncertain | |
| and complex area, but that complexity isn’t reflected in headlines that declare | and complex area, but that complexity isn’t reflected in headlines that declare |
| Britain is “more racist”. | Britain is “more racist”. |
| Any form of prejudice should be highlighted and combated, | Any form of prejudice should be highlighted and combated, |
| whatever the context, and if we’re being generous we could say the media are | whatever the context, and if we’re being generous we could say the media are |
| trying to do that by warning of increasing racism. But the manner in which this | trying to do that by warning of increasing racism. But the manner in which this |
| has been done could well be counterproductive. Telling everyone that the UK is | has been done could well be counterproductive. Telling everyone that the UK is |
| more racist may make those who keep a lid on their prejudice think that they’re | more racist may make those who keep a lid on their prejudice think that they’re |
| wasting their time. It could also make those who have strong prejudices more | wasting their time. It could also make those who have strong prejudices more |
| confident in expressing them, thinking that others are more likely to agree | confident in expressing them, thinking that others are more likely to agree |
| with them. And people invariably | with them. And people invariably |
| conform to what others do in order to fit in, so by declaring that more | conform to what others do in order to fit in, so by declaring that more |
| people are racist, the media could actually be causing this to actually be the | people are racist, the media could actually be causing this to actually be the |
| case, in some particularly horrid example of a self-fulfilling prophecy. | case, in some particularly horrid example of a self-fulfilling prophecy. |
| I admit that I may be taking this too seriously, but I’ve | I admit that I may be taking this too seriously, but I’ve |
| got a lot to resent about the reports, being part of a mixed-race couple. I’m | got a lot to resent about the reports, being part of a mixed-race couple. I’m |
| also Welsh, and according to the BBC we showed the highest levels of | also Welsh, and according to the BBC we showed the highest levels of |
| racial prejudice in the UK. | racial prejudice in the UK. |
| I object to this on two grounds. Firstly, we Welsh are apparently | |
| huge liars, so you can’t trust what we say on surveys, but much more | huge liars, so you can’t trust what we say on surveys, but much more |
| importantly, it’s not mentioned in the | importantly, it’s not mentioned in the |
| report at all. In fact Wales scores about 29%; other areas score a | |
| lot higher. | lot higher. |
| Why would they even say this? It’s almost like there’s some | Why would they even say this? It’s almost like there’s some |
| inherent prejudice against the Welsh. What is wrong with this country!?! | inherent prejudice against the Welsh. What is wrong with this country!?! |
| Dean Burnett welcomes anyone | Dean Burnett welcomes anyone |
| of any background to follow him on Twitter and tell him how rubbish he is at | |
| writing things, @garwboy | writing things, @garwboy |