Whilst previously differences among different ethnic, racial or gender groups were foremost explained though the lenses of biological determinism, relatively recently scholars have started presenting more and more evidence that these differences are actually social constructs. A second grade school teacher Jane Elliot conducted her own social experiment where she divided children into two groups based on the color of their eyes. As shown in the experiment, although differences among social groups are constructed artificially, they are internalized and reinforced by members of these groups, thus creating a situation when a myth becomes the reality.
Jane Elliot’s experiment shows that it is relatively easy to create a myth about superiority of one social group over another one and make the rest of society believe this superiority is ‘natural’. Namely, the school teacher made children believe very fast that brown eyed children are inferior to blue eyed children. Consequently, blue eyed children should enjoy a number of privileges and should be physically segregated from brown eyed children on the playground because they are initially better (Elliot, 2012). Regardless of the fact that those children were often friends with each other, they internalized this myth and showed willingness to discriminate against each other. It is important to understand the practical meaning of these findings. More specifically, the experiment lasted only several days and already had a tremendous effect on intergroup interaction. The stereotypes and myths about one’s group superiority are usually internalized in childhood and continue being reinforced by the process of secondary socialization for many years. Therefore, it is logical to assume that these stereotypes are much stronger embedded in one’s mindset. Prejudice is always the outcome of the process of categorization and ‘othering’, and it is critical to understand it when analyzing inequality. Bettelheim and Janowitz argue that ‘prejudice always generates and is generated by ‘us versus them’ mindset’ (Bettelheim & Janowitz, 1950, p. 90).
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As shown in the experiment, people tend to act in accordance with the myths that are constructed to legitimize one’s superiority. Thus a myth becomes the reality. The grades of brown eyed children dropped as the result of changes in the self-image that the myth about blue eyed people’s superiority has brought. The experiment showed the same findings after the it was reversed and brown eyed children became the favored group. In addition to this, brown eyed children started exhibiting power and discriminating against blue eyed children when they obtained the privileged position. They did not demonstrate any emphatic feelings towards their classmates, regardless of having experienced the same type of discrimination. The conflict theory also gives a better understanding of the quote. More specifically, the theory’s concept of scarce resources is one of the possible explanations why the oppressor is unwilling to voluntary give freedom and rights to the oppressed (Bowser, 2015, p. 87). Those social groups that are in the position of domination benefit in multiple ways from the privileges that they gain as a result of their exploitation of the subordinated social categories and their better access to public resources. They thus reinforce this system of discrimination and oppression. In addition to this, microagressive behavior towards racial minorities can be observed in all spheres of social life in everyday interaction (McWhorter, 2014).
Jane Elliot’s experiment demonstrates that interethnic, interracial and gender differences are often constructed by society. It also shows that hostile attitude and ‘othering’ can occur even in a relatively friendly and warm environment if the respective ideology about one’s superiority is adopted. This experiment therefore provides a better understanding of how power relations are established, legitimized and reinforced by members of society.
- Bettelheim, B., & Janowitz, M. (1964). Social change and prejudice, including Dynamics of prejudice. New York: Free Press of Glencoe.
- Bowser, R. (2015). Race and Rationing. Health Matrix: Journal Of Law-Medicine, 2587.
- Elliot, J. (2012). Jane Elliot brown eyes vs blue eyes. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8c6IWIAFUI&feature=youtu.be.
- McWhorter, J. (2014). Is ‘Microaggression’ the New Racism?. Time,183(14), 21.
