Highlighting white privilege can backfire, pushing some whites toward alt-right ideology

Evidence

These findings may also have implications for how to approach discussions about white advantage/privilege in the United States. In particular, these data suggest that some white people may agree that “white people” have economic advantages in the U.S.; however, despite being white themselves,theydonotpersonallyfeelthattheyexperiencetheseadvantages and, in fact, see themselves as falling behind all racial groups. This perception suggests that, in some cases, emphasizing the relative advantages of white people in the U.S. may actually make some white people feel particularlydisadvantageddue to the perceived contrast of theself with the spoils of the ingroup and the fact that outgroups are also perceived to be “better off.” This conflict may produce support among those white Americans for radicalpoliticalcandidateswhofocusontheirplightaswhitepeople24,25.Asa result, they may be drawn to alt-right ideology that prioritizes white superiority. — Erin Cooley, Jazmin L. Brown-Iannuzzi, Nava Caluori, Nicholas Elacqua, and William Cipolli, White Americans who perceive themselves…, 97

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the self-catalytic threat loop’s prediction that perceived status threat drives radicalization — connects to: White privilege manifests as invisible everyday advantages that sustain racial disparity — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 425; Perceived threat to White privilege poorly predicts racial policy views. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 2174; White shame rather than guilt may drive resistance to anti-racism efforts — Janet K. Swim and Deborah L. Miller, White Guilt: Its Antecedents and…, 137
• QUESTION: Is there experimental evidence that privilege messaging causes this contrast effect, or is it only correlational here?

Broader Connections

• White shame rather than guilt may drive resistance to anti-racism efforts #expands (0.82) — Janet K. Swim and Deborah L. Miller, White Guilt, 137
• Perceived threat to White privilege poorly predicts racial policy views. #complicates (0.74) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2174