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Everyone’s a little bit racist, sometimes Everyone’s a little bit racist, sometimes
(3 months later)
There have been many There have been many reports this 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 media have to interpret a complex study, the conclusions seem more concerned 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 was the norm?
reports this 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 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.
week that racism is on the rise in the UK, referring to the latest Firstly, the official 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 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.
British Social Attitudes survey. However, as is often the case when the Then there’s the way the data is processed. The title of this blog is a lyric from the classic 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, often without realising. There are many reasons why someone might exhibit a form of prejudice; social background, lack of or negative experience, fear of change or difference, even being tired (apparently). There are many psychological and/or sociological factors that can lead to someone demonstrating prejudice of some description, and people can demonstrate a wide variety.
media have to interpret a complex study, the conclusions seem more concerned 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 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 music would be classed as the same as someone who has swastika tattoos on their eyelids and thinks apartheid was the best thing ever.
with sensationalism and publicity than accuracy. So, does the report reveal Undeniably, all forms of prejudice should be highlighted and discouraged, but this level of generalisation means any conclusions drawn from this data should be treated with some caution.
that the UK as a country is sliding back into the days when racial prejudice Also, the study relies upon “self-reported racial prejudice”. Ergo, the study only shows people who admit to exhibiting racial prejudice.
was the norm? 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 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 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 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 not racist, but…” is going to end up being very racist.
No, it doesn’t. While many stories do point to what looks Admitting to being racially prejudiced is admitting you’re wrong about something, and it’s often the most prejudiced who will deny being so. This is another thing that could be distorting the survey data.
like a clear rise in prejudice since 2011, this doesn’t justify headlines There are also no specifics given as to how the subjects taking part define “other races”. Despite what some may claim, there appears to be no scientific rationale for race-based differences beyond the superficial, so how individuals may 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 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 into account, but this information is not provided.
that trumpet the claim “Britain is more racist!” Claims that the data shows a “decade Also of potential importance, the study reports those who admit racial prejudice. It doesn’t say anything about behaviour motivated by this prejudice. Racism covers beliefs, 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 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 to admit to prejudice.
long rise in racism” are even more dubious. A closer look reveals why. 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 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 racism, which is arguably a good thing.
Firstly, the official 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 Britain is “more racist”.
report of the survey shows that, while there is an increase in self-reported Any form of prejudice should be highlighted and combated, 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 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 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 with them. And people invariably 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 case, in some particularly horrid example of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
racial prejudice in recent years compared with the lowest levels recorded, we’re 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 also Welsh, and according to the BBC we showed the highest levels of racial prejudice in the UK.
still well below the highest levels recorded. Also, although overall levels are 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 importantly, it’s not mentioned in the report at all. In fact Wales scores about 29%; other areas score a lot higher.
up since 2012, they’re much lower than 2011. So there was a big drop in Why would they even say this? It’s almost like there’s some inherent prejudice against the Welsh. What is wrong with this country!?!
self-reported prejudice two years ago. I don’t recall any publicity about this. Dean Burnett welcomes anyone of any background to follow him on Twitter and tell him how rubbish he is at writing things, @garwboy
Not sure why this would be.
Then there’s the way the data is processed. The title of
this blog is a lyric from the classic
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,
often without realising. There are many reasons why someone might exhibit a
form of prejudice; social background, lack of or negative experience, fear
of change or difference, even being tired (apparently).
There are many psychological
and/or sociological
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
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
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
music would be classed as the same as someone who has swastika tattoos on
their eyelids and thinks apartheid
was the best thing ever.
Undeniably, all forms of prejudice should be highlighted and
discouraged, but this level of generalisation means any conclusions drawn from
this data should be treated with some caution.
Also, the study relies upon “self-reported 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
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
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
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
not racist, but…” is going to end up being very racist.
Admitting to being racially prejudiced is admitting you’re
wrong about something, and it’s often the most prejudiced who
will deny being so. This is another thing that could be distorting the
survey data.
There are also no specifics given as to how the subjects
taking part define “other races”. Despite what some
may claim, there appears to be no scientific rationale for
race-based differences beyond the superficial, so how individuals may
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
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 into account, but this information is not provided.
Also of potential importance, the study reports those who admit
racial prejudice. It doesn’t say anything about behaviour motivated by this
prejudice. Racism covers beliefs,
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
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
to admit to prejudice.
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
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
racism, which is arguably a good thing.
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
Britain is “more racist”.
Any form of prejudice should be highlighted and combated,
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
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
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
with them. And people invariably
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
case, in some particularly horrid example of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
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
also Welsh, and according to the BBC we showed the highest levels of
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
importantly, it’s not mentioned in the
report at all. In fact Wales scores about 29%; other areas score a
lot higher.
Why would they even say this? It’s almost like there’s some
inherent prejudice against the Welsh. What is wrong with this country!?!
Dean Burnett welcomes anyone
of any background to follow him on Twitter and tell him how rubbish he is at
writing things, @garwboy