Qualitative Methodology: Giving Qualitative Methodology: Giving Voice to the Use of Racial Voice to the Use of Racial

Socialization in African American Socialization in African American FamiliesFamilies

Stephanie I. Coard, Ph.D.Duke University

Center for Child and Family Policy

Presentation at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting - Atlanta, Georgia

April 7, 2005

Research funded by National Institute of Mental Health: K01 MH-01881-01

African American Cultural African American Cultural Values and Parenting PracticesValues and Parenting Practices

Strong kinship bonds

Extended family relationships

Respect for authority/elders

Obedience

Ethnic pride

Achievement orientation

Spirituality

Flexibility of roles

Communal parenting

Strict discipline

Educational attainment

Religious beliefs

Resourcefulness

Racial socialization

Racial Racial Socialization DefinedSocialization Defined

The process by which messages are transmitted inter- and intra- generationally regarding the significance and meaning of race and ethnicity.

Involves teaching children values and norms associated with race/ethnicity, and problem-solving skills that enable children to be flexible in their approach to race-related situations, without losing a core sense of self.

Racial SocializationRacial Socialization

Racial Socialization

Frequency of Message

Mode of Transmission

Content ofMessages

Frequency of MessageFrequency of Message

Frequently used by many parents

Routine aspect of parenting

Moderated by family characteristics (e.g., age, gender, SES)

Mode of TransmissionMode of TransmissionMethod by which parents transmit race-

related messages:

Verbal

Exposure

– Activities

– Modeling

Intentional and unintentional

Content of MessagesContent of Messages

Racial Pride

Cultural/Ethnic Socialization

Egalitarian

Racial Barriers

Racial Coping

Racial Self-Worth

Negative Racial Messages

Racial Socialization and Child Racial Socialization and Child Outcomes: Empirical FindingsOutcomes: Empirical Findings

Racial Competence Academic Achievement

Self-Efficacy Self-Esteem

Behavioral Competence

DelinquencyDrug Abuse

Why is Racial Socialization Why is Racial Socialization Important?Important? It influences a children’s beliefs about

the way the world works. It informs children’s beliefs and

attitudes regarding ‘the self. It helps shape children’s’ repertoire of

strategies and skills for coping with racism.

It impacts the nature of the child’s’ inter- and intra-racial relationships and interactions.

Complexities of Racial Complexities of Racial SocializationSocialization

Synergistic and dynamic

Bi-directional process

Deliberate and unintended

Transmission and reception

Moderated by family and ecological characteristics

Proximal Sources of Racial Proximal Sources of Racial Socialization MessagesSocialization Messages (Coard, & Sellers, 2003)(Coard, & Sellers, 2003)

Child Racial Identity

Peer/OtherExperiences

Peer/OtherSocialization

Messages

FamilySocialization

Messages

ChildExperiences

FamilyExperiences

MediaHome

EnvironmentSchool

Environment

Qualitative Approaches

Focus groups Surveys Naturalistic observations Interviews Content analyses of archival material Case studies

Qualitative Research: Advantages

Flexibility in data collection (access to otherwise unable or unwilling participants)

Validity is not jeopardized by a lab environment

Ability to study new and interesting topics

Yields a lot of information; rich information

Consideration in RS in Parent Consideration in RS in Parent Training: Qualitative PilotTraining: Qualitative Pilot (Coard, Wallace, Stevenson, & Brotman, 2003)

(a) Do African American parents from low-income, inner-city neighborhoods use the range of racial socialization strategies described in the literature?

(b) If so, what is the content of the information African American parents communicate to their young children?

(c) What methods of delivery or communication strategies do the parents use?

(d) Are there discernable styles that are used in delivering or communicating such information to young children?

MethodMethodSubjects Fifteen [thirty] economically disadvantaged, inner-

city African American primarily care providers of 5 and 6 [7] year old children.

Measure/Procedure Semi-structured interview

– personal and racial identity – racial socialization practices– racial conflicts

– racial images Individually conducted by African American female

staff. 2 hours, audio and videotaped Compensated with a free subscription to a black

parenting magazine.

Model of Racial Socialization Model of Racial Socialization ProcessesProcesses (Coard, 2003) Content of Messages

•Racial Preparation•Racial Pride•Racial Equality•Racial Achievement

Mode/Delivery of Messages

•Active•Responsive•Passive

Frequency of Message

•Frequently Used•Routine aspect of parenting•Moderated by family characteristics

Racial Socialization

Content of RS TeachingsContent of RS TeachingsRacism Preparation: Emphasis on racial barriers and and/or

protocol. Awareness of racial barriers and/or blocked opportunities Defensive racial protocol, social distance, mistrust and inter-

group communication Strategic racial protocol and adaptive racial orientation Racial Pride: Emphasis on racial/ethnic pride and commitment Racial pride Black history and heritage Black unity and group commitmentRacial Equality: Emphasis on humanitarianism and equality Egalitarian virtues Expanded opportunities Peaceful and/or multiethnic co-existence Racial Achievement: Emphasis on individual and academic

achievement Initiative and leadership Character building Necessity to excel, achieve and/or work hard.

Frequency of Racial Socialization Frequency of Racial Socialization MessagesMessages

Racism Preparation 83% Racial Pride 93% Racial Equality 86% Racial Achievement 67%

Racism Preparation: Racial barriers and and/or protocol

Q1001- so I wanted him to be able to mix extremely well … don’t stick out and I feel that if you are too black you stick out.

 Q821-I have to teach them how to conduct themselves

in a manner in which they are able to communicate with other ethnic groups…So I was raised not do certain things, not say certain things to people, not look at people a certain way.

Q821- … my children are gonna know how to dress appropriately … have manners so they can move and groove and go in and out of different environments and different arenas and different ethnic groups and they can manage.

Q811- …. don’t wear braids, dreads, don’t wear the Malcolm X shirt to work. Don’t be too black … that could cost you your job. They might not look at it as pro-black. They would look at it as anti-white. Don’t wear Danger: Educated black person on the job because they might get threatened.

I try to tell my kids to try new things. She [friend] was telling me about a hockey team that is starting in Harlem at the ice skating rink. Maybe they should try for that because not many [Black] kids are exposed to that. They may meet new kids [other than Black].The have to learn get along with kids that don’t look like them.

Sources of Parental StressSources of Parental Stress

Conflicts on the playground Classroom and school related activities Interactions with authorities in the

community (e.g., police officers) Balancing within community vs outside

community interactions Reality vs media hype

Racial Socialization Mode/Delivery Styles Active

parent initiated race-related teachings of their child for the purpose of preparing the child for cultural growth and providing a “buffer” to societal injustices.

Responsive Use of racial socialization in direct response to a child-initiated interaction (e.g., questions raised by child) or situation initiated (e.g., social exclusion, racial conflict) in an attempt to provide a culturally affirming resolution.

PassiveParent’s underutilization of racial socialization despite knowing its importance.

Directions for Future ResearchDirections for Future Research

Utilize longitudinal approaches

Employ multiple methods– Qualitative interviews and focus groups– Observational assessments– Questionnaires and checklists– Event sampling frameworks

Use multiple informants into the socialization process– Messages sent and messages received

Directions for Future ResearchDirections for Future Research

Examine other sources of racial socialization beyond parents.

Investigate the ethnic variation among families of African descent in America.

Identify racial socialization practices and strategies that are associated with the most positive child outcomes taking into consideration ecological environment.

Evaluate existing race socialization interventions.