The Magic of the Invisible 23andMe: Princess Performers and “Playing Race”

• In Event: Joint Roundtables: Social Psychology Section and Sociology of Emotions Section
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 3 - Symbolic Boundaries

Abstract

Social actors seek to align their presentation of self with how they wish others to see them. When there are phenotypical markers that indicate a particular social categorization, the individual has to situate their performance within that context. By analyzing 17 interviews with princess performers from across the United States, this paper investigates the process of “doing” and “playing” race by examining how princess performers navigate casting. In turn, this project seeks to fill a gap in the literature about the process of evaluating the authenticity of racial performances. It does so by illuminating what symbolic boundaries are drawn, how they are enforced, and what is done to police infractions. The conclusions have societal implications beyond this unique population and broader impacts on social psychological theories of self, identity, and symbolic meaning.
 
 
 

Author

• Kristin C Newvine, Pennsylvania State University