Civic Organizations and (In)Tolerance

• In Event: 514 - Section on Inequality, Poverty and Mobility Paper Session. How and Why Black and Brown Lives Matter

Abstract

One promise of civic associations in the democratic realm is that they will reduce oppression (Galston 2000) and teach appreciation for differences (Theiss-Morse and Hibbing 2013). This positive outcome is supposed to result from face-to-face interactions across group boundaries. But, how can they meet that promise when today’s civic organizations are thought to be divided across race, ethnic, and socioeconomic status group lines? Using ethnographic and interview data from five youth civic associations, this article outlines the three primary ways that organizations respond to race/ethnic and socioeconomic issues, from active silence to systematic engagement. I find that the type of discourse around inequality is not shaped by group homogeneity, but rather by the intentionality of group leaders and participants. I argue that the homogeneity of the group may influence the failure of civic organizations to provide the promises of participation for reducing oppression and increasing tolerance. However, equally important is the organizations ability to engage in facing issues of inequality, including within the organization. The primary factors that dictate the extent to which civic organizations can overcome barriers to participation across social cleavages are the active inclusion of diverse participants in activities, and the autonomy within the group to engage in discourse around inequality. In other words, having a heterogeneous group is a step towards creating exchanges and understanding across sociodemographic groups, but it is not sufficient for achieving this goal.

Author

• Sarah Gaby, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill