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Neighborhood Ethnic Density
Co-authored a poster study examining the moderating effect of neighborhood ethnic density on the relation between color-blind ideologies and colonial mentality in Asian Americans
ROLE
Research Assistant
(Psychology)
DURATION
May 2023 - Sept 2023
(4 months)
TEAM
Danielle Godon-Decoteau
PhD
TOOLS
Godon-Decoteau, D. & Liu, S. M. (2023, August). Color-blind attitudes, neighborhood racial composition, and colonial mentality in Asian Americans [Poster presentation]. American Psychological Association 2023 Annual Convention (Division 45), Washington D.C.
Overview
This project seeks to explore how an individual’s upbringing and environment influence their perception of their own race, particularly in relation to the racial identities of those around them. To better understand this dynamic, it’s important to first define the following key terms:
Colonial Mentality— a form of internalized oppression where individuals from colonized or formerly colonized countries adopt a belief that their colonizer's culture, values, and physical traits are superior to their own. This mindset can affect how individuals perceive their racial identity, often leading to feelings of inferiority toward their own race and a preference for Eurocentric standards of beauty and behavior.
Internalized Racism— the unconscious acceptance of negative stereotypes, beliefs, and attitudes about one's own racial or ethnic group, often as a result of systemic racism. This can lead individuals to feel inferior or devalue their own culture and identity.
Color-blind Ideology— The belief that ignoring race will promote equality (e.g. “I don’t see race”). While well-meaning, this approach can downplay real racial issues and the different experiences of various groups.
Moderating Effect— When one factor changes how two other factors relate to each other. For example, factors like education or income can affect how upbringing influences a person’s racial identity.
Drafting
Danielle had a rough draft of ideas in the paper when I joined the project. Together, we organized our thoughts and arguments to explore the moderating variables between colonial mentality and color-blind ideologies (a form of internalized racism). Through extensive discussions and literature reviews, we identified key connections to support our argument.
I was responsible for drafting the discussion section, where we explained that for Asian American participants in neighborhoods with predominantly people of color, internalizing color-blind attitudes was linked to higher colonial mentality. This suggests that in more racially diverse environments, denying racism may increase internalized racism.
Building on existing literature, we theorized that this effect was absent in predominantly White neighborhoods due to the complex role of racial triangulation, which positions Asian Americans between whiteness and blackness. In these areas, factors like the model minority myth and merit-based privilege may complicate the connection between color-blindness and internalized racism.
Poster Design
At conferences, attendees are often faced with many posters, making it important for key information to be easily understood at a glance. Our main goal is to ensure that the key points and findings are clear, even from a distance or when someone is just walking by. To achieve this, I applied Gestalt Principles, using proximity to group related elements and making important points stand out. By placing the core message in bold, prominent text at the center, I can grab someone’s attention even through a quick scan. If viewers are interested, they can then move closer to explore the detailed information in the margins.
Takeaways
Some key lessons that I learned from this study:
— In academic posters, it's easy to get lost in details, but effective communication requires prioritizing key information. Focus on what matters most, and leave room for readers to ask questions if they're curious.
— Racial issues are complex, and opinions vary on the importance of this research. As we write, we must stay mindful of our audience and our goal: to raise awareness and persuade people to care. This research serves as a form of activism, aiming to bring attention to these critical issues.
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