SIO403: At What Age Can You Talk To Kids about Race? Parents Wildly Overestimate
Nov 25, 2023
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Dr. Elizabeth Deitch returns to discuss when and how to talk to kids about race, revealing interesting findings from two studies. The impact of media on children's understanding of race and gender is explored, along with the challenges of raising children in a gender-neutral manner. The importance of discussing race at a young age is emphasized, comparing approaches of black and white parents. The barriers and differences in discussing race with children and adults are discussed, highlighting the need for more resources for parents.
Parents tend to think that young children lack the capacity to reason about race effectively, leading to the avoidance of conversations; educating adults about when children can process race information can help dispel these misconceptions and encourage earlier conversations.
People of color are more likely to engage in conversations about race with their children compared to white individuals; comfort level plays a role, with those who feel more comfortable discussing race more likely to engage in these conversations.
Conversations about race with children often cover topics such as benefits of diversity, multiculturalism, politics, power, and privilege; however, there is room for more in-depth discussions, especially among white participants.
Deep dives
Misconceptions about the timing of conversations about race with children
Participants in the podcast episode overestimated the age at which children can understand and engage in conversations about race. They believed that these conversations should occur around a child's fifth birthday, significantly later than the actual developmental milestones. The study revealed that adults tend to think that young children lack the capacity to reason about race effectively, leading to the avoidance of such conversations. However, research suggests that children as young as three months old start to show preferences for specific racial groups. Educating adults about when children can process race information can help dispel these misconceptions and encourage earlier conversations.
Disparities in discussing race with children based on race and comfort level
The podcast episode highlighted disparities in discussing race with children based on the race of the participants. People of color were more likely to engage in conversations about race with their children compared to white individuals. Additionally, comfort level played a role, with those who felt more comfortable discussing race more likely to engage in these conversations. Interestingly, the study found that intentions to have conversations about race were a strong predictor of whether they actually took place. Furthermore, the episode revealed that conversations about race with adults were less common, but those who engaged in conversations with their children were more likely to also discuss race with adults.
Topics covered in conversations about race with children
The study examined the topics discussed when talking about race with children. Participants who had conversations about race mentioned topics such as benefits of diversity, multiculturalism, politics, power, and privilege. However, it is worth noting that there were overestimates in the extent to which these topics would be covered, specifically by white participants. The study suggests that there may be room for more in-depth discussions on these topics, fostering a better understanding of race and its related issues among children.
Parents of color talk about race more than white parents with their children
The podcast episode discusses a study that found that parents of color engage in more conversations about race with their children compared to white parents. The study examined conversations around race during the Thanksgiving holiday, with participants selecting resources related to different aspects of Thanksgiving and race. The findings revealed that parents of color were more likely to discuss topics such as African American culture, multiculturalism, and negative historical moments involving race. In contrast, conversations about politics, whiteness, and power and privilege were avoided by most parents, particularly white parents. The study suggests the need for interventions and resources to support parents, particularly white parents, in discussing these important topics.
White parents express discomfort and fear in talking about race with children
The podcast episode highlights the reluctance of white parents to engage in conversations about race with their children. Many white parents expressed discomfort and fear, fearing that acknowledging race may signal their own racial bias or make their children focus on race in inappropriate ways. This discomfort led to avoidance of conversations about race, as they often justified not talking about it by claiming it didn't come up naturally. The study suggests the need for white parents to address these concerns and actively engage in meaningful conversations about race with their children, including topics such as power, privilege, and whiteness.
Dr. Elizabeth Deitch returns to the show to take us through some science thingies! CRT bannings and other conservative nonsense got Beth interested in the question: when should we actually talk to kids about race? When will they understand it? When do they actually notice race? These questions brought her to two studies. These studies reveal some interesting things about how parents approach conversations on race. When do they think they should have them? And when do they actually have them? And there's a bit of a Thanksgiving tie-in as well!
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