Charles is a nine-year-old black child. He and his family have moved recently, and he is starting in a new school. His parents are both sociologists, and they are concerned that some of Charles' teachers may assume that, because Charles is a member of a visible minority, they may expect him to do poorly academically. As sociologists, what would they likely be concerned about?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Charles' parents are likely concerned about stereotype threat, which is the fear of confirming a negative stereotype about one's social group. They may worry that Charles' teachers could hold lower expectations for him based on his race, which could affect his academic performance and sense of belonging in the classroom. Reverse racism, institutional minimized expectations, and curricular push back are also important sociological concepts, but they are less directly relevant to Charles' situation.

Charles Is a Nine-Year-Old Black Child