Stereotype Threat
Delusion of a postracial area
We might be aware of some stereotypes related to our social identity but what we don’t know much about is stereotype threat. Stereotype threat has been shown to reduce the performance of successful people belonging to a certain negatively stereotyped group. Claude Steele, the author of Whistling Vivaldi, a social psychologist and Columbia University provost, writes about the work he and his colleagues have done on this phenomenon, the tendency to expect, perceive, and be influenced by negative stereotypes about one’s social category such as one’s age, sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, profession, nationality, political affiliation, mental health status, and so on. Steele also explains the counterargument …show more content…
According to Steele in Whistling Vivaldi, “ ‘critical mass’ refers to the point at which there are enough minorities in a setting, like school or work places, that individual minorities no longer feel uncomfortable there because they minorities”(135). It’s when we have enough minorities around us that we don’t feel a threat anymore. For example, an African American student needs only one other Black student in his class so they don’t feel a threat, also this can help them study in groups and create a better study environment instead of being isolated. Same with female student in advanced math classes, they only need one other female classmate to feel safe and backed …show more content…
To improve minorities motivation in classrooms, colleges should train their faculties on the way they should give critical feedback to minorities student in their classes also considering how it can affect their motivation and receptiveness. According to steele, “by improving the critical mass in a setting, you can improve members’ trust, comfort, and performance in the setting”(217).
And in case of lack of minority in the classroom another way to improve one’s motivation is to encourage intergroup conversations among students from different backgrounds and by allowing students to show what they are good at you can improve their grades even for a long time.
However, reminding students to do the best they can is not enough but by simply reminding these successful minority student where they already are is a good motivation. In this case, reminding a female student were she already is “ in an advanced math class” in enough to boost her self confidence and prove what she can
We might be aware of some stereotypes related to our social identity but what we don’t know much about is stereotype threat. Stereotype threat has been shown to reduce the performance of successful people belonging to a certain negatively stereotyped group. Claude Steele, the author of Whistling Vivaldi, a social psychologist and Columbia University provost, writes about the work he and his colleagues have done on this phenomenon, the tendency to expect, perceive, and be influenced by negative stereotypes about one’s social category such as one’s age, sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, profession, nationality, political affiliation, mental health status, and so on. Steele also explains the counterargument …show more content…
According to Steele in Whistling Vivaldi, “ ‘critical mass’ refers to the point at which there are enough minorities in a setting, like school or work places, that individual minorities no longer feel uncomfortable there because they minorities”(135). It’s when we have enough minorities around us that we don’t feel a threat anymore. For example, an African American student needs only one other Black student in his class so they don’t feel a threat, also this can help them study in groups and create a better study environment instead of being isolated. Same with female student in advanced math classes, they only need one other female classmate to feel safe and backed …show more content…
To improve minorities motivation in classrooms, colleges should train their faculties on the way they should give critical feedback to minorities student in their classes also considering how it can affect their motivation and receptiveness. According to steele, “by improving the critical mass in a setting, you can improve members’ trust, comfort, and performance in the setting”(217).
And in case of lack of minority in the classroom another way to improve one’s motivation is to encourage intergroup conversations among students from different backgrounds and by allowing students to show what they are good at you can improve their grades even for a long time.
However, reminding students to do the best they can is not enough but by simply reminding these successful minority student where they already are is a good motivation. In this case, reminding a female student were she already is “ in an advanced math class” in enough to boost her self confidence and prove what she can