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When Whites' Attempts to Be Multicultural Backfire in Intergroup Interactions
Author(s) -
Zou Linda,
Cheryan Sapna
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
social and personality psychology compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.699
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 1751-9004
DOI - 10.1111/spc3.12203
Subject(s) - denial , multiculturalism , psychology , social psychology , ethnic group , identity (music) , salient , people of color , interpersonal communication , women of color , race (biology) , gender studies , aesthetics , sociology , psychoanalysis , pedagogy , philosophy , artificial intelligence , anthropology , computer science
Whites' attempts to enact multicultural ideals in intergroup interactions can sometimes have negative interpersonal consequences. This paper reviews the instances when Whites' efforts to acknowledge, appreciate, and learn about racial and ethnic differences can make people of color's group identity uncomfortably salient ( minority spotlight effect ), make people of color feel that certain attributes are being imposed onto their group identity ( positive stereotyping ), or make people of color feel precluded from another group identity ( identity denial ). Each of these situations introduces a hurtful discrepancy between how people of color are seen by others and how they wish to be seen. Suggestions for how to “do” multiculturalism in ways that avoid creating this discrepancy are discussed.