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Cultural Heterogeneity in Americans' Definitions of Racism, Sexism, and Classism: Results from a Mixed-Methods Study
Lauren Valentino1, Evangeline Warren2
1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
AJS; American Journal of Sociology
|January 1, 2025
Summary
Americans define racism, sexism, and classism differently based on intentionality, outcomes, and power. These varied understandings influence public opinion and policy preferences on discrimination.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Sociology
- Political Science
Background:
- Understanding public perceptions of social inequality is crucial.
- Previous research has not fully explored the nuanced definitions of racism, sexism, and classism.
- Cultural heterogeneity in defining these concepts remains under-examined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how Americans define racism, sexism, and classism.
- To identify the key components influencing these definitions.
- To examine how demographic and political factors shape these definitions.
Main Methods:
- Sequential mixed-methods study combining qualitative interviews (N=40) with a nationally representative survey experiment (N=2,000).
- Symbolic boundaries elicitation approach used to gather examples of discrimination.
- Vignettes based on elicited examples used in survey experiment to test definitional components.
Main Results:
- Significant cultural heterogeneity exists in American definitions of racism, sexism, and classism.
- Definitions hinge on emphasis placed on intentionality, unequal outcomes, and power asymmetry.
- Political partisanship, gender, age, and income significantly shape definitional components.
Conclusions:
- Public understanding of social inequality concepts is diverse.
- Definitions of racism, sexism, and classism are strong predictors of discrimination-related attitudes and policy preferences.
- Findings highlight the importance of considering definitional nuances in public opinion research.
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