ACES Colloquium Series: Dr. Kristy Pathakis (POLS) 2/9/22
Who Belongs? How political belonging uncertainty stifles the political voices of minorities in America
Meeting ID: 977 3484 5822
Password: Pathakis
Who Belongs? How political belonging uncertainty stifles the political voices of minorities in America
Wednesday, Febuary 9, 2022
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Virtual Event
Zoom Meeting information:
Meeting ID: 977 3484 5822
Password: Pathakis
https://tamu.zoom.us/j/97734845822?pwd=Z0JSMkVhOStDd3JQVkIrcGg4eUFHZz09
Dr. Kristy Pathakis
Assistant Visiting Professor, Political Science, Glasscock Affiliated Fellow (ACES), Texas A&M University
Abstract:
The history of exclusion and discrimination in American politics makes it difficult for African Americans and Latinx Americans to realize of a sense of political belonging. This creates a barrier to political expression that exacerbates resource-based barriers, like education and income. Pathakis draws from theories of stereotype threat and belonging uncertainty in social psychology to introduce a theory of political belonging uncertainty. One important way that political belonging uncertainty manifests is in a preference to know more about a topic before reporting opinions. As a result, opinion surveys underrepresent the opinions of minorities. First, using data from nationally representative surveys, Pathakis shows that, even holding constant education and political knowledge, African Americans and Latinx Americans offer fewer opinions than white Americans. Pathakis develops a measure of political belonging uncertainty and shows experimentally that political belonging uncertainty contributes to lower expression. Pathakis also presents results from a survey showing that, when given the option, black Americans ask for more information before offering opinions—even when starting from the same level of political knowledge and education as white Americans. In contrast to activities that require more effort and more time, responding to a political opinion question should be relatively low-effort, and also comparatively private. Thus, Pathakis argues that this applies to lower levels of political engagement generally. This paper contributes to literature on non-response to opinion questions and minority political behavior, specifically from a political psychology perspective.
Please note that this is not a lecture, and thus, is not suited for class attendance. The Colloquium Series is intended to provide the presenter with a forum to discuss their research and receive feedback from colleagues.
PLEASE NOTE: Unlike our Faculty and Graduate Fellows’ Colloquia, we do not pre-circulate a draft paper of the work-in progress for ACES Colloquia.
Join the Center’s listserv to receive regular notices of colloquium events.