ERIC Number: EJ1217815
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Jun
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1938-8926
EISSN: N/A
"Cosmetic Diversity": University Websites and the Transformation of Race Categories
Ford, Karly Sarita; Patterson, Ashley N.
Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, v12 n2 p99-114 Jun 2019
Universities are under pressure to represent the ethno-racial diversity of their student bodies in the most favorable light via their websites. We analyzed the race/ethnicity tables and figures featured prominently on the websites of 158 colleges and universities. We found 3 practices that institutions undertake to enhance the appearance of diversity on campus: omission, aggregation, and addition of ethno-racial categories. Universities with the lowest levels of student diversity were the most likely to engage in these practices. We understand these practices to be organizational-level "racial projects" (Omi & Winant, 2015). That is, universities are actively transforming "the content and importance of racial categories" (p. 61).
Descriptors: Universities, Web Sites, Race, Higher Education, Student Diversity, Ethnicity, Racial Differences, Undergraduate Students
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A