No Laughing Matter: Interracial and Intra-ethnic Patterns in Off Color Jokes
Abstract
The present study analyzes service members assessed likelihood of hearing racially, ethnically, and/or nationally oriented (i.e., off color) jokes. Such jokes are microaggressions (Pierce, 1978)intentional acts that invalidate or antagonize individuals based on their racioethnic group memberships. The relationship of microaggressions to inter- and intra-group racial difference, gender, rank, branch, deployment status, and relative representation upon Latinas and Latinos levels of observed microaggressions is examined. Also presented are correlations of these microaggressions with observations of cross-racioethnic contact (i.e., positive EO behavior). Results show significant differences in likelihood of hearing racioethnically oriented jokes by gender, deployment status, branch, rank, and race. Within the group labeled as Hispanics, these differences vary significantly based upon phenotype, whose proxy is race in this study. Whites in general and White Hispanics reported less likelihood of hearing racioethnic jokes. In general and among Latinas and Latinos, men reported more likelihood of hearing racioethnic jokes. There were also differences by deployment status and branch in the perceived likelihood of hearing racioethnic jokes, though the pattern of those differences varies. Hypotheses for color were partially substantiated. Hypotheses for representation were not substantiated. Theory-supported hypotheses regarding rank were disconfirmed. Limitations and implications for research and practice are discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 15, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1002270
Entities
People
- Daniel P. Mcdonald
- J. G. Smith
Organizations
- Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute