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Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in...

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Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.
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Page 1: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial

Ideology

By Doris Corbett

Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Page 2: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Melting Pot Premise Challenged

• Combat stereotypes: need working knowledge of what they are first (“Hispanic, Latino, Asian”)

• Demographic changes: multiple unconnected neighborhoods: how is power shared? How will immigrants fit into sport?

• Significant segment of White Americans has fear of unknown, strangers, immigrants

Page 3: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

White as a Racial Identity: Implications for Women of Color• Whites frequently unaware of the fact that

the White perspective is not the only one

• Tunnel vision fails to see non-White reality

• “Failure to identify “Whiteness” permits White people to discount how races shapes their lives and how racial privileges are amassed” (Hyde, 1995, p.88)

Page 4: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Unpacking the Social Construction of Racial Ideology

• Some Definitions:

• Ideology: rationalized and helps organize particular social interests. Racist and Sexist ideologies provide a vocabulary about race, cultural and gender differences, and an idea about what is normal

Page 5: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Culture Defined

• A collective name for all behavior patterns that are socially obtained and socially conveyed. Culture is transmitted in a variety of ways including tradition, language, and customs. Culture consists of the way life is created by people in a particular society.

Page 6: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Ethnicity

• The concept of ethnicity evolved as did the concept of race. Immigrants were defined as ethnic until they were acculturated into the American society.

• Ethnicity focuses on culturally based orientations and behaviors. It refers to the cultural heritage of a particular group and is not based on genetically determined physical traits.

Page 7: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Minority Group

• The term minority group is a sociological term used to refer to a socially identified collection of people who experience discrimination and endure social disadvantages because of discrimination.

Page 8: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

White Privilege

• White privilege applies to hidden rights and advantages that are afforded White people on the basis of skin color.

• These privileges reinforce and maintain the construction of this country that suggest White is normal and people of color are outsiders

Page 9: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Stereotypes

• May be a characteristic of a group that is applied to one person who is a member of that group. Typically there is an element of truth in many stereotypes, but applying that trait to all members of that group is erroneous.

• Often advanced by both the media and pop culture and are not easy to overcome

Page 10: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Institutional Racism

• Systematic patterns of social inequality correlating with race and ethnicity.

• Racial discrimination usually occurs when race is used to determine access to status, power, rewards and privileges.

• Behavior is discriminatory when institutional practices, social conduct, codes of behavior, and legal sanctions have an unequal impact, which limit opportunities for people of color

Page 11: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

U.S. Patterns of Racial Discrimination• In the U.S. racial discrimination usually

applies to African Americans, Puerto Ricans, Chinese American, and Mexican Americans.

• Racial discrimination occurs when people of color experience subordination by people who consider themselves superior.

Page 12: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Contemporary Racist Examples

• John Carlos and Tommy Smith were evicted from the 1968 Mexico Olympic village for their victory stand demonstration.

• They were protesting racism in sport and American society.

Page 13: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

The Williams Sisters

• The media has not embraced the cultural difference tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams bring to the sport.

• The media, reflecting the values of the dominant society, has difficulty accepting Black women in sport who value their diversity.

Page 14: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Racism and Sport

• Racism in sport toward women of color may be either formal or informal.

• Formal: rules, codes, laws of an organization, or society that sanction discrimination

• Informal racism refers to discriminatory practices that are not officially sanctioned.

Page 15: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Historical Forms of Racism

• No longer accepted: slavery, Jim Crow Laws, The Indian Removal Act, The Japanese Internment during WWII, and the Chinese Exclusion Act

• Racism has left its mark at the institutional and organizational levels of sport.

Page 16: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Membership in Private Clubs

• In 1993 the Annandale Golf Club of Pasadena, CA withdrew it’s name from the bid to host the U.S. Women’s Amateur golf tournament.

• Minority athletes often get channeled into stereotypically prescribed sports. For example, Black girls and track and basketball.

Page 17: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Invisible Women of Color

• For many brown women of color, the word beauty often translates into tall, thin, and White. Impossible.

• Stereotypes don’t fit

• Knowledge

Page 18: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Hierarchies are Interlocking

• White women and men enjoy skin privileges and have been conditioned to be unaware of its existence (McIntosh, 1992)

• Whites, both men and women, are not taught to recognize White privilege.

• Discrimination hurts people of color and advantages White women and men.

Page 19: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Dailey Experiences of People of Color• No one listens to her, but everyone take notice

when a White female coach or athlete makes a comment.

• Women of color speak with the understanding that they will often not be listened to. Their motives will be challenged.

• Their comments will not be taken seriously.• Their judgment and trustworthiness are

questioned.•

Page 20: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

More experiences

• “Credit to their race” insult• Expected to downplay or not call attention to their

language or cultural customs like hair style or dress.• Lateness blamed on their race• “You’re a good friend. I never think of you as

Black.”• Athletes and coaches feel burdened with the need to

demonstrate their competence• Glass ceiling limits upward mobility

Page 21: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Racial Identity Topic Important

• Sport is one of the last arenas where racial issues are not genuinely discussed.

• Many changes have occurred in sport throughout the 20th century, but not enough progress has been made.

Page 22: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Invisible Women of Color in Sport

• Minority women of color must resolve discrepancies in images of beauty promoted within their specific ethnicities and in the ideals promoted by the dominant culture.

• In the Black community having a larger frame does not carry the same stigma as it does in the White community.

• For Middle Eastern women, beauty does not mean thin, blond, and tall.

• Image is important: gymnastics, and figure skating

Page 23: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Who Are They? Hispanic?

• Many different meanings and social values are attributed to the term. Mexican decent, Puerto Rican, Brazilian, Dominican, etc.

• Hispanic and Latino labels affect the meaning and interpretation of citizenship.

• Hispanic White used sometimes by government, schools or private agencies to describe people of color. Mexican American who is new-born in California has White on the birth certificate.

Page 24: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Little Research on Social Impact of Sport for Latinas• Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Mary Jo

Fernandez, and Gabriela Sabatini in tennis, Nancy Lopez in golf, and Lisa Fernandez in soffball are standouts in their sports.

• From a research standpoint we know little or nothing about the social impact of sport in their lives.

Page 25: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Asian American Women?

• Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Filipino, Indo Chinese including Vietnamese, Cambodians, Laotian, Thais, and ethnic Chinese, and South Asian including the countries of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Kashmir, Nepal, Bhutan, and Burma. Obviously, we should not believe that all Asian Americans look alike.

Page 26: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

The stereotypes of Asian Women

• Passive, submissive hard workers, “model Minorities” and exotic sex objects. Polite submissive, loyal, and family-oriented housewife.

• Figure skaters Kristi Yamaguchi and Michele Kwan; Pool player Jeanettee Lee, Golfers Se Ri Pak and Grack Park, and Japanese Baksetball Shooting Guard Linsday Yamasaki. Icons in the Asian community.

• One BB league in Orange County has 500+ young Japanese American women playing. Another, 1000

Page 27: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Native American Women?

• Stereotypes: strong, stoic, quiet, loyal, untrustworthy, dishonest, indolent. Diminished financial status, “They all receive welfare checks.”

• Excel in running, archer, and lacrosse as well as in many games and sports such as field hockey, ice hockey, soccer, bowling, wrestling, and racquetball.

Page 28: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Research: Native American Women in Sport• No win-at-all costs or self-serving attitude

in the sports arena.

• The focus on the importance of competition for the group as a whole.

• Competition used to motivate individuals and groups to develop self-limits and self-knowledge.

Page 29: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Native American Sports Council

• A member of the US Olympic Committee• Provide culturally specific physical activity and

sport opportunities for Native American girls and women.

• They offer a Sports Development Program for athletes

• There is a Native American Women’s Track and Field Program.

• Lila Osceola, Seminole Creek, Sac, and Fox Tribes: University of Tulsa BB player role model

Page 30: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

African American Women ?

• Trace their ancestry to the continent of Africa from where they were brought to the “new world” as slaves

• Many wrongly try to explain physical ability of Black athletes in racial terms even though race is a social construction and not biologically based.

Page 31: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

“Natural Skills” Stereotypes

• Speed, quickness, and jumping are the skills that cannot be taught; and expressions of physicality among Black people are signs of intellectual inferiority

• No scientific foundation for the stereotypes, but many people still cling to them

Page 32: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Family Influence Great

• Research indicates that the family’s social social structure has been supportive of Black women in sport who have been successful.

• For example, elite athletes often credit their families for much of their success.

Page 33: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Socialized Into a Few Sports

• Since the 1950’s Blacks have been relegated to just a few sports.

• No or few Blacks in: archer, badminton, cycling, field hockey, ice hockey, sailing, alpine and Nordic skiing, softball, table tennis, water polo, tennis, auto racing, bowling, canoeing, and kayaking, yachting, and many field event in track and field.

Page 34: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Nevertheless, Blacks Have Excelled Everywhere• Briana Scurry of the U.S. soccer team; Dominique

Daws, gymnastic Olympian; Annett Davis and Jennifer Johnson Jordan in beach volleyball; Dawn Ellerbee, hammer thrower; and the Williams sisters in tennis.

• Robin Roberts, ESPN anchor women and sports commentator; Benita Fitzgerald-Mosley, Director of the Training Amateur Athletic Foundation of L.A.

Page 35: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Glass Ceiling

• Elaina Oden: two time Olympian applied for coaching position at University of Connecticut. Impressive credentials, but no interview.

• Hiring practices of 292 NCAA universities investigated: glass ceiling was revealed. Black women barred from high-paying head coaching or administrative positions. At professional level only 3 out of 401 VP positions

Page 36: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Effects of Demographic Shifts in Sport• Tensions heightened among racial groups.• Whites will be in the minority. Many White

Americans are not prepared for that• Today women of color are challenging the

existing patterns of racially defined sports.• The sporting result of cultural diversity increasing

is a complex pattern of racial and ethnic group competition and demands for political power.

Page 37: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Unpacking Racial Stereotypes in Sport• Minority women in sport are not natural athletes

any more than other women in sport.• Minority female athletes are students first and

foremost.• We need to Provide an atmosphere of

inclusiveness and commit to minority representation in positions of power: coaches, administrators, etc.

Page 38: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Cultural Considerations

• Different behavior patterns in one culture may be interpreted as unacceptable in another.

• Behavior and communication may have different meanings cross culturally.

• We need to find ways to avoid imposing limitations on cultural expression.

Page 39: Ch. 16; Minority Women of Color: Unpacking Racial Ideology By Doris Corbett Notes from Women in Sport, Greta Cohen, Ed.

Conclusion

• Women of color experience a form of double jeopardy: racism and sexism.

• Challenging racism in sport is a good thing.

• As women, we already share a form of oppression that is universally understood. Let’s extend that understanding to understanding racial oppression.


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