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CU-Boulder 1998 Community Survey

Experiences with Stereotyping

Students were asked whether they encounter overt prejudice or discrimination by various groups, including both members of the CU-Boulder community (e.g., faculty, administration) and the larger Boulder community. The percentage of students from each group who report experiencing overt prejudice or discrimination is quite low. On average, groups report experiencing close to no overt prejudice. For all groups, the percent who say they never encounter overt prejudice/discrimination from each of the identified groups is quite substantial. However, as we have seen in several other analyses, the pattern is slightly different for African American students.

African American respondents are more likely than students from other racial/ethnic groups to say they encounter overt prejudice/discrimination from each of the identified groups (e.g., staff, administrators). For example, 15% of African Americans, compared to 0-4% of other group members, say they "pretty much" or "very much" encounter overt prejudice/discrimination from staff. Similarly, 35% of African Americans compared to 1-11% of other group members say they "pretty much" or "very much" encounter overt prejudice/discrimination from fellow students.

It appears that each racial/ethnic group except whites encounters the most overt prejudice/discrimination from fellow students and the Boulder community. This is especially true for African Americans. Not unexpectedly, the percent of whites reporting any discrimination is quite small. To see results in tabular form, click here. (table 6-I)

Note: For graph display, A=Asian-American, B=Black/African Amer, H=Hispanic, N=Native American, W=White

Specific types of stereotyping: Respondents were asked to indicate the extent to which they have been subject to specific kinds of expectations and stereotypes, both positive and negative, at CU-Boulder. In most cases, they were not asked to indicate who imposed these expectations; for example, it is not possible to separate stereotyping by members of the university community from that by the wider Boulder community. (Some items did specifically ask about stereotyping by students or by instructors.) Overall, students report experiencing specific kinds of stereotyping very little. African American students report somewhat greater stereotyping than do members of other groups, but even their responses do not indicate a pervasive experience of stereotyping on average.

African American students are more likely than members of all other racial/ethnic groups to say that the following are "pretty much" or "very much" true for them: students and instructors expect low academic performance from me, I feel left out of class group assignments, I'm seen as a resident authority for my group, I can never slip up because what I do reflects on my group, people assume I'm an athlete, people assume I'm dishonest. For example, 51% of African Americans, compared to 3-21% of other groups, say they feel "like I can never slip up because what I do represents my group's abilities, behaviors, etc."

There are some additional differences between groups on particular items. black students are more likely than white students to say that the following are "pretty much" or "very much" true for them: I've been called racial slurs by other students, students assume I'm poor, I'm pressured to be loyal to my group. Asian-Americans (38%) and Hispanics (21%) are more likely than white respondents (5%) to say they are asked what their native language is. Asian-Americans (37%) are more likely than all other groups (5-13%) except whites (30%) to say that students expect high performance from them.

To see results in tabular form, click here. (table 6-II)

Changes over time: Results from 1998 are very similar to those of 1994. Most groups show a few increases and a few decreases in experiences of stereotyping, but equivalent ratings on most items. In fact, none of the differences reflect statistically significant changes over time. To see results in tabular form, click here. (table 6-III)

Table of Contents for 1998 Community Survey

jo - l:\ir\survey\comm\cm98\report\sectn6.doc
hm - last updated 5/17/2000

Last revision 07/23/02