Illustrating the Social Construction of Race and Racial Stereotypes with Images

Abstract

Instructors often encounter resistance when they challenge students’ pre-existing beliefs about race and ethnicity. Students often find the idea that these categories are socially constructed, rather than purely biological, difficult to grasp, if not threatening. We developed a classroom activity to use when discussing the social construction of racial...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Race, Class and Gender

Resource Type(s):

Class Activity

Class Level(s):

College 100

Class Size(s):

Any

Usage Notes

Includes two related but distinct activities that can be used alone or in conjunction. We have used them for several semesters and found them effective and engaging for students.

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will recognize how perceptions of physical features are affected by pre-existing assumptions about racial categories.
2. Students will recognize how stereotypes are sufficiently broad and generalized to be applied to many groups.

Goal Assessment(s):

1. Students will turn in lists made during Activity 1 showing their answers to questions raised during activity.
2. Students will share which groups they thought were represented in the images presented and discuss how the class as a whole applied the stereotypes to a wide variety of groups.