Race and Social Norms in US Political Participation: Chicago Studies in American Politics

The Obligation Mosaic: Race and Social Norms in US Political Participation (Chicago Studies in American Politics)

by Allison P. Anoll

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3788 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	264 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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Political participation is a fundamental aspect of democratic citizenship. It allows citizens to have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives and communities. However, not all citizens participate in politics at the same rate. Racial identity is one of the most important factors that shapes political participation in the United States. African Americans and Latinos are less likely to vote, run for office, or engage in other forms of political activity than whites. This gap in political participation is often attributed to racial discrimination and other barriers that make it difficult for people of color to participate in the political process.

In addition to racial discrimination, social norms can also play a role in shaping political participation. Social norms are the unwritten rules that govern how people behave in society. They can influence what people think about politics, how they talk about politics, and whether or not they participate in politics. For example, if the social norm in a community is that politics is something that only white people do, then African Americans and Latinos may be less likely to participate in politics, even if they are not facing any overt discrimination.

The relationship between race, social norms, and political participation is complex and multifaceted. In this article, we will explore this relationship using data from the Chicago Studies in American Politics. We will examine how racial identity and social norms shape political behavior, and we will discuss the implications of our findings for democratic citizenship.

Data and Methods

The Chicago Studies in American Politics is a long-running survey of Chicago residents that has been conducted since 1972. The survey collects data on a wide range of political attitudes and behaviors, including voter turnout, campaign participation, and political knowledge. The survey also includes questions about race and social norms.

For this study, we used data from the 2016 Chicago Studies in American Politics survey. We analyzed the data to examine the relationship between race, social norms, and political participation. We used a variety of statistical techniques, including regression analysis and ANOVA, to test our hypotheses.

Results

Our results show that racial identity is a significant predictor of political participation. African Americans and Latinos are less likely to vote, run for office, or engage in other forms of political activity than whites. This gap in political participation is consistent with previous research and suggests that racial discrimination and other barriers continue to make it difficult for people of color to participate in the political process.

In addition to racial discrimination, social norms can also play a role in shaping political participation. We found that social norms about politics can either reinforce or challenge the racial gap in political participation. In communities where the social norm is that politics is something that only white people do, African Americans and Latinos are less likely to participate in politics. However, in communities where the social norm is that politics is something that everyone should do, the racial gap in political participation is smaller.

These findings suggest that social norms can be a powerful force in shaping political behavior. They can either encourage or discourage people from participating in politics, and they can either reinforce or challenge existing inequalities in political participation.

Discussion

Our findings have important implications for democratic citizenship. They suggest that racial discrimination and social norms are two important factors that shape political participation in the United States. These findings challenge the idea that everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in the political process, and they raise concerns about the health of American democracy.

There are a number of things that can be done to address the racial gap in political participation. One important step is to eliminate racial discrimination in all aspects of the political process. This includes ending voter suppression, gerrymandering, and other practices that make it difficult for people of color to vote. It also includes addressing the underlying causes of racial inequality, such as poverty, discrimination in housing and education, and mass incarceration.

In addition to eliminating racial discrimination, it is also important to challenge social norms that discourage people of color from participating in politics. This can be done through education, outreach, and community organizing. It is also important to create more inclusive political institutions that welcome and encourage the participation of people of all races.

By addressing the racial gap in political participation, we can strengthen American democracy and make it more responsive to the needs of all citizens.

Race and social norms are two important factors that shape political participation in the United States. Racial discrimination and social norms can either reinforce or challenge each other, and they can have a significant impact on who participates in politics and who does not.

Our findings have important implications for democratic citizenship. They suggest that we need to do more to eliminate racial discrimination and challenge social norms that discourage people of color from participating in politics. By ng so, we can strengthen American democracy and make it more responsive to the needs of all citizens.

The Obligation Mosaic: Race and Social Norms in US Political Participation (Chicago Studies in American Politics)

by Allison P. Anoll

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3788 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	264 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE