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Abstract
Beliefs about the Existence of White Privilege, Race Attitudes,
and Diversity-Related Behavior
Tracy Lynn Banaszynski
2000
White privilege is the notion that having White skin protects one from the types of
disadvantages Blacks and other historically oppressed groups routinely experience and
provides Whites with subtle, often hidden privileges not available to members of other
racial and ethnic groups. The present two studies explored participants’ awareness of and
beliefs about the existence of White privilege and the affect associated with beliefs about
the existence of White privilege. In Study I. we found variability in how much
participants had previously thought about White privilege and that beliefs about the
existence of White privilege cohere with other race- and group- related attitudes and
beliefs, including belief that the U.S. is a meritocracy and personal prejudice. In Study 2,
we found that beliefs about the existence of White privilege are related to attitudes
toward affirmative action and to whether or not people take action to support racial and
ethnic diversity. Specifically, the more participants believed in the existence of White
privilege, the more likely they were to support affirmative action and to sign postcards
showing their support of racial diversity on campus. We also found that guilt mediated
the relationships between beliefs about the existence of White privilege and attitudes
toward affirmative action and beliefs about the existence of White privilege and the
number of postcards signed. The potential benefits of a shift in how both social science
researchers and society think about race that brings White privilege into clear focus are
discussed.
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Beliefs about the Existence of White Privilege, Race Attitudes,
and Diversity-Related Behavior
A Dissertation
Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School
of
Yale University
in Candidacy for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
by
Tracy Lynn Banaszynski
Dissertation Director: Marianne LaFrance
December 2000
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UMI Number 9991118
Copyright 2001 by
Banaszynski, Tracy Lynn
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Table of Contents
Introduction.............................................................................................................................I
Study I
Overview......................................................................................................................II
Method.........................................................................................................................12
Results..........................................................................................................................16
Discussion...................................................................................................................27
Study 2
Overview.....................................................................................................................32
Method.........................................................................................................................34
Results..........................................................................................................................39
Discussion...................................................................................................................52
General Discussion..................................................................................................................56
References...............................................................................................................................66
Appendix A: Thought listing instructions........................................................................73
Appendix B: Questions relating to beliefs about the existence
privilege...........................................................................................................74
Appendix C: Privilege listing instructions.......................................................................75
Appendix D: Privilege rating questionnaire.....................................................................76
Appendix E: Disadvantage listing instructions................................................................79
Appendix F: More questions relating to beliefs about the
existence of White privilege.......................................................................80
Appendix G: Affect measure...............................................................................................84
Appendix H: Explanations of affect...................................................................................85
Appendix I: Coding scheme for thought listing task......................................................86
Appendix J: Demographic information questionnaire...................................................87
Appendix K: Beliefs about the existence of White Privilege Scale.............................88
Appendix L: Beliefs about Discrimination Scale...........................................................89
Appendix M: Social and Political Issues Questionnaire................................................90
Appendix N: Behavioral Intentions measure...................................................................91
Appendix O: Example postcard..........................................................................................97
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List of Tables
Table 1. Means and Standard Deviations for Factors Important
for Success in Life..................................................................................................20
Table 2. Correlations between Beliefs about the Existence of White
Privilege and Factors Important for Success in Life.......................................22
Table 3. Correlations between Beliefs about the Existence of
White Privilege and Affect...................................................................................27
Table 4. Correlations between Beliefs about the Existence of Privilege
and Other Race- and Group-related Constructs....................... 40
Table 5. Correlations between Beliefs about the Existence of White
Privilege and Affect for All Participants..........................................................44
Table 6. Correlations between Beliefs about the Existence of White
Privilege and Affect for White Participants......................................................46
Table 7. Correlations between Beliefs about the Existence of While
Privilege and Affect for Non-White Participants............................................47
Table 8. Predicting Attitudes toward Affirmative Action from Beliefs
about the Existence of White Privilege and Guilt...........................................49
Table 9. Predicting Number of Postcards Signed from Beliefs about the
Existence of White Privilege and Guilt.............................................................51
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Acknowledgments
I am indebted to the many people who facilitated the completion of my
dissertation. Thanks to my advisor, Marianne LaFrance, whose willingness to let me
pursue my own research interests made my last year of graduate school both rewarding
and enjoyable. Thanks also to my dissertation committee, Peter Salovey, Geoffrey
Cohen, Kelly Brownell, and Diana Cordova. Their thoughtful and considerate feedback
improved this document considerably. Peter Salovey deserves additional thanks for
listening to every thought and answering every question I had about graduate school over
the past four years. Thank you to Trish Devine, my undergraduate advisor, for inspiring
me to be passionate about social issues and for introducing me to the idea of White
privilege.
Thank you to the members of Gender Lab for helping shape this project when it
was in its nascent stages. I had the good fortune of having the brightest undergraduates at
Yale as research assistants. They taught me as much as I hope I taught them. Whitney
Bowe, Chad Golder, David Hurwitz. David Fischer, and Ben Siegel all went above and
beyond the call of duty in assisting me at every stage of this research: they have my
eternal gratitude.
I would not have a Ph.D. if it were not for Siri Carpenter and Kristi Lemm. They
pushed, pulled, and otherwise dragged me through graduate school. For seeing me
through both the ups and the downs and being patient through it all, they are saints. In
addition to helping me think through the theoretical and methodological issues associated
with this project and reading drafts of this document, they provided much needed
emotional support and encouragement. Saying thank you does not seem like enough.
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