(NAME-MCE) Americans couch feelings about race in 'happy talk' of diversity-speak

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Americans  couch feelings about race in 'happy talk' of diversity-speak

According to  a new study by researchers in the University of Minnesota's
sociology  department, Americans are generally positive -- even optimistic
-- about the  word 'diversity,' but when asked, even those working in the
field of race  relations have trouble describing diversity's value and
stumble when giving  real life examples.

The desire to appear color-blind leads most Americans  to prefer the
standardized language of diversity-speak when addressing issues  of race,
rather than the other way around. The researchers conclude that  American
diversity-speak is a sort of 'happy talk,' an upbeat language in  which
everyone has a place, everyone is welcome and even  celebrated.

The study takes its conclusions from a telephone survey of  more than 2,000
households across the country and nearly 150 hour-long  interviews with
adults from a wide range of backgrounds living in Atlanta,  Boston, Los
Angeles and Minneapolis/Angeles a

The study found a  majority of Americans - cutting across race, class and
gender lines -- value  diversity, but their upbeat responses to the term
contradict tensions between  individual values and fears that cultural
disunity could threaten the  stability of American society. Also regardless
of race, Americans' definition  of diversity places white people at the
neutral center and all other groups  of people as outside contributors.

"The public debates and talk-show  lamentations about immigration and
political correctness leave many Americans  to assume there's a big divide
in the country between those who value  diversity and those who reject it,"
said Doug Hartmann, associate sociology  professor, who coauthored the study
with graduate student Joyce Bell. "The  fact is, most Americans value
diversity - but they see it as a benefit with  the potential cost of
cultural disunity and social  instability.c

The study also found that most Americans use  platitudes when describing
diversity. "The topic of race lies outside the  realm of polite
conversation,conversation,<WBR>" said Bell. "Everyone in the study --  r
political affiliation and even level of rhetorical  ability -- had real
trouble talking about the inequities and injustices that  typically
accompany diversity in the United States."

The study will be  published in a forthcoming issue of American Sociological
Review and is part  of the sociology department's American Mosaic Project,
an ongoing project  funded by the Minneapolis-an ongoing project  funded 
Foundation that  looks at race, religion and cultural diversity in the
contemporary United  States.-University of  Minnesota

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