Many worry that uncivil discourse can undermine democratic processes. Yet, what exactly does it mean for discourse to be uncivil? I argue that there is systematic variation in perceptions of incivility based on the identity of those targeted by uncivil speech. Specifically, I show—via a conjoint survey experiment—that White Americans are less likely to view statements directed at Black Americans as uncivil but more likely to perceive incivility when the target is a woman or a co-partisan. These results suggest an identity-laden aspect of incivility such that it is acceptable to treat Black Americans with less civility but less acceptable to do so for women and co-partisans. The results have implications for how we assess discourse and how that discourse affects the public.
Is announcing a commitment to diversity enough to activate attitudes toward diversity initiatives? And what are the spillover effects of these programs? To address these questions, we conduct an experiment imbedded in a nationally representative survey of non-Hispanic White Americans ( n = 1,519). We inform respondents that the White actor who plays Captain America will be replaced, while varying whether there is a reference to a diversity initiative and whether the replacement is White or Black. We find that reference to diversity initiatives on its own has no effect but the action of displaying diversity affects marketplace preferences and attitudes toward diversity initiatives.
Specifically, I show-via a conjoint survey experiment-that White Americans are less likely to view statements directed at Black Americans as uncivil but more likely to perceive incivility when the target is a woman or a co-partisan. should read: Specifically, I show-via a conjoint survey experiment-that White Americans are more likely to view statements directed at Black Americans as uncivil, and also more likely to perceive incivility when the target is a woman or a copartisan.On page 15, the passage that reads: These analyses, found in Appendix H, show that Black women are routinely perceived as the most uncivil speakers, especially when they are speaking to White women. This is largely unsurprising due to the litany of research that finds that Black women are held to higher standards of personal conduct than white women or even Black men (citations). should read: These analyses, found in Appendix H, show that Black women are perceived as the most uncivil speakers only when they are speaking to White women. This minor finding is likely unsurprising to some because of research that finds that Black women are held to higher standards of personal conduct than white women or even Black men (citations).
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