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Social Passingas a Change in ones Reference
Group

• Presented by Tina Quicoli

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Counter Intuitive Situation

• A counter intuitive situation occurs when one
  encounters an individual of a particular race
  that does not act in a way that is consistent
  with the stereotypical behavior that is adopted
  by their racial group.

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Examples

• If a black person hangs around white people why
  are they called white?
• Whitewashed This term is used to refer to
  ethnic people who act white.
• An Oreo refers to a black person who is white
  on the inside.

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Racial Groups

• Historical, religious, political, and economic
  circumstances form racial groups.
• Racial groups are created as a result of the
  dominant groups attempt to classify themselves
  as insiders and others as outsiders.
• This allows for the dominant racial group to
  maintain their privileged social position.
• However, racial groups can also offer individual
  who have a common experience a sense of community.

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Racial Groups as Reference Groups

• A reference group is a group whose outlook is
  used by individual as a frame of reference in the
  organization of perceptual fields.
• Reference groups arise through the
  internalization of norms and constitute attitudes
  and expectations towards behavior.
• This is similar to Meads generalized other, which
  is the organization of the attitudes of the
  others from which an individual receives a sense
  of self-consciousness.

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Outsiders vs. Insiders

• Reference groups are hierarchically structured.
• Within the US the white male reference group has
  been elevated to a general societal point of
  reference.
• The white male holds a normative status.
• Women and minorities hold an other status.
• Insider vs. Outsider
• Minorities that gain access into white male
  groups are outsiders within.

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Goffman

• Displays of demeanor that are associated with the
  dominant group in society are valued over others.
• If an individual is well demeaned others will
  give them deference, but deference may be
  withheld when it is thought that the person does
  not deserve it.
• All individuals want to maintain face in social
  interactions.
• Thus, individuals may adopt forms of demeanor
  that are socially valued or they may avoid
  interacting with certain groups of individuals.

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A Change in Reference Group

• The type of demeanor that is preferred in the
  professional workplace and university system is
  that which is adopted by white males.
• In order to obtain success in male-dominated
  settings minorities develop tactics.
• They can adopt pluralistic or assimilating
  strategies.

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Pluralism vs. Assimilation

• Minorities may assimilate by changing their
  reference group and social pass as a white
  male.
• Individuals may choose to pass as white in
  order to obtain advantages that are withheld from
  their in-group.
• Others may choose to create solidarity amongst
  others and better their in-groups position.

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Concluding Remarks

• 1) The greater the social space between racial
  groups the more likely a hierarchical structuring
  of groups will persist.
• 2) When marginalized racial groups are denied
  access to valuable resources and opportunities
  individual may develop strategies to gain access.
• 3) The greater an individual from a marginalized
  racial group internalizes the negative
  stereotypes about their in-group the more likely
  they will be to pass.

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• 4) The more willing individuals from the dominant
  group are to allow a marginalized individual
  access into the inside the more likely that
  individual will be to pass.
• 5) When individuals from a minority group shift
  their point of reference and pass a white they
  may be recognized to occupy an intermediary
  racial status.