What’s Aversive Racism and How Can I Avoid Enabling It?

Aversive racism is a form of contemporary racism. In contrast to the traditional form, it operates unconsciously in subtle and indirect ways. Aversive racists regard themselves as non-prejudiced. However, at the same time, they harbor negative feelings and beliefs about members of minority groups. Experts first hypothesized the term to characterize the attitudes of well-educated and liberal whites in America, toward blacks.  But the basic principles apply to the attitudes of members of dominant groups toward minorities. In other words, groups in other countries with strong contemporary egalitarian values. Yet, discriminatory histories or policies. Despite its subtle expression, aversive racism…