Chapter 6

1. Chapter 6 White Racial Identity Development Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (6)

2. What does it mean to be White? • Whiteness represents an entrenched determinant of worldview • Is often outside the level of consciousness for Whites Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (6)

3. 42-year-old White Businessman Q: What does it mean to be White? A: Frankly, I don’t know what you are talking about! Q: Aren’t you White? A: Yes, but I come from Italian heritage. I’m Italian, not White. Q: Well then, what does it mean to be Italian? A: Pasta, good food, love of wine (obviously agitated). This is getting ridiculous! Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (6)

4. 26-year-old White Female College Student Q: What does it mean to be White? A: Is this a trick question? ? [pause]I’ve never thought about it. Well, I know that lots of Black people see us as being prejudiced and all that stuff. I wish people would just forget about race differences and see one another as human beings. People are people and we should all be proud to be Americans. Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (6)

5. 39-year-old Black Male Salesman Q: What does it mean to be White? A: Is this a school exercise or something? Never expected someone to ask me that question in the middle of the city. Do you want the politically correct answer or what I really think? Q: Can you tell me what you really think? A: You won’t quit, will you [laughing]? If you’re White, you’re right. If you’re Black, step back. Q: What does that mean? A: White folks are always thinking they know all the answers. A Black man’s word is worth less than a White man’s… Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (6)

6. 39-year-old Black Salesman (Cont’d) When White customers come into our dealership and see me standing next to the cars, I become invisible to them. Actually, they may see me as a well-­dressed janitor [laughs], or actively avoid me. They will search out a White salesman. Or when I explain something to a customer, they always check out the information with my White colleagues… Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (6)

7. 39-year-old Black Salesman (Cont’d) …They don’t trust me. When I mention this to our manager, who is White, he tells me I’m oversensitive and being paranoid. That’s what being White means. It means having the authority or power to tell me what’s really happening even though I know it’s not. Being White means you can fool yourself into thinking that you’re not prejudiced, when you are. That’s what it means to be White. Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (6)

8. 21-year-old Chinese American Male College Student (majoring in ethnic studies) Q: What does it mean to be White? A: My cultural heritage class was just discussing that question this week. Q: What was your conclusion? A: Well, it has to do with White privilege. I read an article by a professor at Wellesley. It made a lot of sense to me. Being White in this society automatically guarantees you better treatment and unearned benefits and privileges than minorities. Having white skin means you have the freedom to choose the neighborhood you live in. You won’t be discriminated against. When you enter a store, security guards won’t assume you will steal something… Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (6)

9. 21-year-old Chinese American Male College Student (Cont’d) …You can flag down a cab without the thought they won’t pick you up because you’re a minority. You can study in school and be assured your group will be portrayed positively. You don’t have to deal with race or think about it. Q: Are White folks aware of their White privilege? A: Hell no! They’re oblivious to it. Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (6)

10. The Invisible Whiteness of Being • Denial and mystification of Whiteness • Become angry and defensive when labeled White Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (6)

11. Understanding the Dynamics of Whiteness • People consider themselves as “good” --without bias • Impossible to escape socialization • Need to consider Whiteness to move toward a non-racist, White identity Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (6)

12. Research Findings Levels of White racial identity awareness is predictive of racism: • The less aware—the higher the racism • Women less likely to exhibit racist attitudes Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (6)

13. The Hardiman (1982) Model of White Racial Identity Development • Acceptance Stage: Belief in the democratic ideal • Naiveté Stage: Lack of social consciousness • Resistance Stage: Awareness of discrimination • Definition Stage: Confronting one’s biases • Internalization Stage: Commitment to forming a non-racist identity and to social action Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (6)

14. The Helms White Racial Identity Development Model • Contact: “People are people” • Disintegration: Conflict over awareness of racism • Reintegration: Regression • Pseudo-independence: Helping people of color become more like Whites • Immersion/emersion: Searching for meaning—willing to confront biases • Autonomy: Increasing awareness, reduced guilt, accepting one’s role in racism, determined to abandon White entitlement Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (6)

15. The Process of White Racial Identity Development: A Descriptive Model • Conformity: Beliefs are ethnocentric • Dissonance: Forced to deal with inconsistencies • Resistance and Immersion: Begins to question and challenge own racism • Introspection: Rejection of Whiteness • Integrative awareness: Integration of Whiteness (Continued…) Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (6)

16. Integrative Awareness • Understanding the self as a racial/cultural being • Being aware of sociopolitical influences regarding racism • Appreciating racial/cultural diversity • Becoming more committed toward eradicating oppression.

17. Implications for Social Work Practice • Accept that racism pervasiveness • Know that Whites are socialized to have biases • Understand that level of White racial identity affects the process and outcome of interracial relationship (including social work practice) • Work on accepting your own Whiteness, but define it in non-defensive and non-racist manner Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (6)

18. Implications for Social Work Practice • Spend time with healthy and strong people from another culture or racial group • Live the reality • Attend cultural events • Pay attention to feelings/thoughts of people of color • Personal commitment to action Multicultural Social Work Practice – Chapter (6)