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For those wondering why this is important, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype_threat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype_threat > "If negative s
by pshin45 13y ago
For those wondering why this is important, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype_threat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype_threat
> "If negative stereotypes are present regarding a specific group, group members are likely to become anxious about their performance, which may hinder their ability to perform at their maximum level. For example, stereotype threat can lower the intellectual performance of African-Americans taking the SAT reasoning test used for college entrance in the United States, due to the stereotype that African-Americans are less intelligent than other groups. Importantly, the individual does not need to subscribe to the stereotype for it to be activated. Moreover, the specific mechanism through which anxiety (induced by the activation of the stereotype) decreases performance is by depleting working memory (especially the phonological aspects of the working memory system).
- ricardobeat 13y agoDoesn't that support the other view, that race shouldn't be brought into play?
- jacalata 13y agoOnly if you can make a plausible argument that there are no existing stereotypes.
- ricardobeat 13y agoThe theory is that people perform worse when a negative stereotype they identify with is presented to them. Saying "oh, but unfortunately there are no successful black entrepreneurs" in an entrepreneurship class to black kids seems to be exactly that.
- jacalata 13y ago...thats why the op is asking for examples of actual black entrepreneurs, so that what will actually happen is, when presenting a list of entrepreneurs as examples, at least some of them are black, and the kids are not explicitly or implicitly told that there are no black entrepreneurs. You seem to be arguing that presenting a list of white examples would not prompt stereotypes in itself, and I think you really need to show that instead of simply assume it.
- ricardobeat 13y agoYeah, that makes sense. I was thinking along 'companies started by african-americans' as the presentation context, which carries the subtext of blacks as the exception.