Nathan Smith Studies Racial Attitudes Among White Men in Canada - University of Houston
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Nathan Smith Studies Racial Attitudes Among White Men in Canada

Nathan SmithDepartment of Psychological, Health & Learning Sciences (PHLS) associate professor, Nathan Smith has published recent research with Sela Kleiman and Lisa B. Spanierman in Psychology of Men & Masculinity, an American Psychological Association (APA) publication and one of the leading journals in the field of men’s psychology.  

The research entitled Translating Oppression: Understanding How Sexual Minority Status is Associated With White Men’s Racial Attitudes investigates racial attitudes of heterosexual and sexual minority (e.g., gay, bisexual, and queer) White men in Canada.  In addition, for the sexual minority White men, Smith and the research team explored the association between experiences of anti-gay discrimination and their racial attitudes. In examining racial attitudes, they focused on color-blind racial ideology and racial empathy. Color-blind racial ideology refers to denial or minimization of racism and racial inequities. Racial empathy refers to the ability to understand and connect emotionally to the experiences of people of other races or ethnicities. 

They found that sexual minority White men reported fewer color-blind racial attitudes than heterosexual White men. Thus, sexual minority White men were less likely to minimize the importance of race or to deny the existence of racism. They also found that sexual minority White men reported more racial empathy than heterosexual White men, indicating that sexual minority White men were more likely to feel emotionally connected to those of other races.

"It appears that sexual minority White men gain empathy for the experiences of people of color because they know what it’s like to experience discrimination and oppression as a result of their sexual orientation," said Smith. "They’re able to translate their own experience of oppression and feel for those who experience oppression as a result of racism. When that empathy exists, it’s harder to deny the existence of racism or to minimize the important role that race plays in people’s lives. This is not to imply that sexual minority White men are able to understand what it feels like to experience racism; rather, they’re able to feel empathy for those who do experience racism."

Smith notes that understanding the factors that contribute to White men’s racial attitudes is critical in creating a more equitable society. "Given the privileged position of White men, gaining knowledge about the factors associated with their racial attitudes can provide us the tools to dismantle racism and create a more just society," he said.

Understanding Whiteness and how it intersects with other cultural identities, such as sexual orientation, can lead to developing better approaches to reducing racism and eradicating the negative impacts of racism on society. PHLS is committed to "challenging structural inequities to reduce disparities and promote social justice locally and globally,” said Smith.  "This research is in line with our mission to eliminate disparities in health and education, many of which are racially- and ethnically-based."

PHLS chair Ezemenari Obasi added, "Dr. Smith's research is timely and contributes a much-needed literature regarding a vulnerable and understudied population."

Psychology of Men & Masculinity highlights research examining the intersection of masculinity and other social identities such as race and sexual orientation. Work examining racial attitudes among heterosexual and gay and bisexual White men is well suited for this prestigious journal.