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Outram S, Graves JL, Powell J, Wolpert C, Haynie KL, Foster MW, Blanchard JW, Hoffmeyer A, Agans RP, Royal CD. Genes, Race, and Causation: US Public Perspectives About Racial Difference. RACE AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS 2018; 10:79-90. [PMID: 33281994 PMCID: PMC7717494 DOI: 10.1007/s12552-018-9223-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Concerns have been raised that the increase in popular interest in genetics may herald a new era within which racial inequities are seen as 'natural' or immutable. In the following study, we provide data from a nationally representative survey on how the US population perceives general ability, athleticism, and intellect being determined by race and/or genetics and whether they believe racial health inequities to be primarily the product of genetic or social factors. We find that self-described race is of primary importance in attributing general ability to race, increasing age is a significant factor in attributing athleticism and intellect to genes and race, and education is a significant factor in decreasing such racially and genetically deterministic views . Beliefs about the meaning of race are statistically significantly associated with respect to the perception of athletic abilities and marginally associated with the perception of racial health inequalities being either socially or genetically derived. Race, education, socioeconomic status, and concepts of race were frequently found to be multiplicative in their statistical effects. The persistent acceptance of a genetically and racially deterministic view of athleticism among the White and older population group is discussed in respect to its social impact, as is the high level of agreement that general abilities are determined by race among non-White respondents and those of lower socioeconomic status. We argue that these findings highlight that both biological and non-biological forms of understanding race continue to play a role into the politics of race and social difference within contemporary US society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Outram
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103C Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Joint School for Nanoscience and Nanoengineering 2907 East Gate City Blvd. North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, NC, 27401
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103a Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Department of Physician Assistant Studies Emory & Henry College 565 Radio Hill Road Marion, VA 24354
- Department of Political Science Duke University 279 Gross Hall, Durham, NC 27708
- School of Community and Environmental Health Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA 23508
- Department of Anthropology, 455 West Lindsey Street, DHT 511 University of Oklahoma Norman, OK 73019
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health NC 27599 7400 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill NC 27599 7400
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103f Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 and (919) 668-6515
| | - Joseph L Graves
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103C Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Joint School for Nanoscience and Nanoengineering 2907 East Gate City Blvd. North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, NC, 27401
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103a Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Department of Physician Assistant Studies Emory & Henry College 565 Radio Hill Road Marion, VA 24354
- Department of Political Science Duke University 279 Gross Hall, Durham, NC 27708
- School of Community and Environmental Health Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA 23508
- Department of Anthropology, 455 West Lindsey Street, DHT 511 University of Oklahoma Norman, OK 73019
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health NC 27599 7400 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill NC 27599 7400
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103f Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 and (919) 668-6515
| | - Jill Powell
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103C Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Joint School for Nanoscience and Nanoengineering 2907 East Gate City Blvd. North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, NC, 27401
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103a Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Department of Physician Assistant Studies Emory & Henry College 565 Radio Hill Road Marion, VA 24354
- Department of Political Science Duke University 279 Gross Hall, Durham, NC 27708
- School of Community and Environmental Health Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA 23508
- Department of Anthropology, 455 West Lindsey Street, DHT 511 University of Oklahoma Norman, OK 73019
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health NC 27599 7400 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill NC 27599 7400
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103f Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 and (919) 668-6515
| | - Chantelle Wolpert
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103C Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Joint School for Nanoscience and Nanoengineering 2907 East Gate City Blvd. North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, NC, 27401
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103a Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Department of Physician Assistant Studies Emory & Henry College 565 Radio Hill Road Marion, VA 24354
- Department of Political Science Duke University 279 Gross Hall, Durham, NC 27708
- School of Community and Environmental Health Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA 23508
- Department of Anthropology, 455 West Lindsey Street, DHT 511 University of Oklahoma Norman, OK 73019
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health NC 27599 7400 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill NC 27599 7400
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103f Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 and (919) 668-6515
| | - Kerry L Haynie
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103C Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Joint School for Nanoscience and Nanoengineering 2907 East Gate City Blvd. North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, NC, 27401
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103a Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Department of Physician Assistant Studies Emory & Henry College 565 Radio Hill Road Marion, VA 24354
- Department of Political Science Duke University 279 Gross Hall, Durham, NC 27708
- School of Community and Environmental Health Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA 23508
- Department of Anthropology, 455 West Lindsey Street, DHT 511 University of Oklahoma Norman, OK 73019
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health NC 27599 7400 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill NC 27599 7400
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103f Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 and (919) 668-6515
| | - Morris W Foster
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103C Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Joint School for Nanoscience and Nanoengineering 2907 East Gate City Blvd. North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, NC, 27401
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103a Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Department of Physician Assistant Studies Emory & Henry College 565 Radio Hill Road Marion, VA 24354
- Department of Political Science Duke University 279 Gross Hall, Durham, NC 27708
- School of Community and Environmental Health Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA 23508
- Department of Anthropology, 455 West Lindsey Street, DHT 511 University of Oklahoma Norman, OK 73019
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health NC 27599 7400 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill NC 27599 7400
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103f Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 and (919) 668-6515
| | - Jessica W Blanchard
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103C Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Joint School for Nanoscience and Nanoengineering 2907 East Gate City Blvd. North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, NC, 27401
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103a Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Department of Physician Assistant Studies Emory & Henry College 565 Radio Hill Road Marion, VA 24354
- Department of Political Science Duke University 279 Gross Hall, Durham, NC 27708
- School of Community and Environmental Health Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA 23508
- Department of Anthropology, 455 West Lindsey Street, DHT 511 University of Oklahoma Norman, OK 73019
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health NC 27599 7400 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill NC 27599 7400
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103f Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 and (919) 668-6515
| | - Anna Hoffmeyer
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103C Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Joint School for Nanoscience and Nanoengineering 2907 East Gate City Blvd. North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, NC, 27401
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103a Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Department of Physician Assistant Studies Emory & Henry College 565 Radio Hill Road Marion, VA 24354
- Department of Political Science Duke University 279 Gross Hall, Durham, NC 27708
- School of Community and Environmental Health Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA 23508
- Department of Anthropology, 455 West Lindsey Street, DHT 511 University of Oklahoma Norman, OK 73019
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health NC 27599 7400 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill NC 27599 7400
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103f Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 and (919) 668-6515
| | - Robert P Agans
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103C Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Joint School for Nanoscience and Nanoengineering 2907 East Gate City Blvd. North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, NC, 27401
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103a Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Department of Physician Assistant Studies Emory & Henry College 565 Radio Hill Road Marion, VA 24354
- Department of Political Science Duke University 279 Gross Hall, Durham, NC 27708
- School of Community and Environmental Health Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA 23508
- Department of Anthropology, 455 West Lindsey Street, DHT 511 University of Oklahoma Norman, OK 73019
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health NC 27599 7400 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill NC 27599 7400
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103f Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 and (919) 668-6515
| | - Charmaine Dm Royal
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103C Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Joint School for Nanoscience and Nanoengineering 2907 East Gate City Blvd. North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, NC, 27401
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103a Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 office
- Department of Physician Assistant Studies Emory & Henry College 565 Radio Hill Road Marion, VA 24354
- Department of Political Science Duke University 279 Gross Hall, Durham, NC 27708
- School of Community and Environmental Health Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA 23508
- Department of Anthropology, 455 West Lindsey Street, DHT 511 University of Oklahoma Norman, OK 73019
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health NC 27599 7400 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- Department of Biostatistics Gillings School of Global Public Health University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill NC 27599 7400
- Center for Genomics, Race, Identity, Difference (GRID) Social Science Research Institute, C103f Duke University Box 90420 Durham, NC 27708-0420 and (919) 668-6515
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