This book was written in 2010 and covers how individual psychology affects society concerning race, gender, mental illness, age, and other differences. Its intended audience seems to consist primarily of Americans. However, it seems like the United States has travelled a long journey since 2010, since the beginning of the Obama era. That journey seems to have spanned places both on and off the beaten path towards social equality. After finishing this book, I’m left to wonder what Steele’s thoughts are concerning this journey.
None of this invalidates any of the research Steele presents from the field of social psychology. He writes about studies showing how the mere mention of a racial or gender category can elicit better-or-worse test scores in college students. He also writes about his personal journey in trying to raise academic achievement in minorities in the college setting. The historical chain of research – brilliant in its design, meticulous in its handling, and clear in its presentation – is still abundantly relevant.
The last chapter – a surmise on whether we’ve reached a “post-racial” society (Steele says no) – seems very dated. Racial discord seems high at the moment I write this in 2020. Most citizens would now laugh at the notion that America has reached post-racial status. Such an observation seems in line with the findings of Steele’s research. “Stereotype threat” is the anxiety that a stereotype of bad outcomes for a group will apply in one’s own specific case. It can be observed in all races, genders, etc. It says simply that one’s identity matters and will continue to matter. Feeling stereotype threat is an innate part of being human. Steele sees that the only way to better the situation is embracing that identity and seeing its positive benefits.
This work has obvious impact for students as well as educators. It also contains insight for social leaders. Americans, living in an acknowledged “melting pot” society, will recognize behaviors that their friends, neighbors, and even themselves have in response to stereotype threat. Steele’s treatment is helpful in slowing down the continual flow of thoughts about this issue in order to see it more cleanly. I, for one, will be more deliberate in how I deal with those of different identity than me in certain social settings.
Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do
By Claude M. Steele
Copyright (c) 2010
W.W. Norton & Company
ISBN13 9780393339727
Page Count: 242
Genre: Psychology, Sociology
www.amazon.com