Exam 14: B: Race and Ethnicity

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The Bogardus social distance scale is a measure used to assess people's willingness to interact with individuals from different racial or ethnic groups. It was developed by Emory Bogardus in the early 20th century and consists of a series of statements about potential social interactions with members of various racial and ethnic groups, such as "Would you be willing to have a member of this group as a close friend?" or "Would you be willing to have a member of this group as a neighbor?"

Research using the Bogardus social distance scale has shown that attitudes towards racial and ethnic minorities have changed over time. In the early 20th century, when the scale was first developed, there was generally a greater social distance between majority groups and minority groups. However, as society has become more diverse and inclusive, research using the scale has indicated a decrease in social distance and an increase in willingness to interact with individuals from different racial and ethnic backgrounds.

This suggests that changing attitudes towards racial and ethnic minorities have become more positive over time, as people have become more open to forming relationships and social interactions with individuals from diverse backgrounds. However, it is important to note that there is still work to be done in addressing issues of discrimination and prejudice, and the Bogardus social distance scale continues to be a valuable tool for measuring and understanding these attitudes.