I found the blue eye/brown eye DVD very interesting in today's tutorial. I think it is an effective method of opening people's eyes to the discrimination that is shown to certain ethnic or social groups in our society.
However, I think there is potential with this scenario to also increase anger and prejudice between races.
In today's lecture Prof. Mac talked about the 'Optimal Conditions for Contact' Hypotheses. The hypothesis is based upon the fact that racism and prejudice occurs when groups are ignorant of one another. The blue eye/brown eye workshop allows two groups to have contact with each other but I was not so sure that it actually used the 'Optimal Conditions for Contact.'
The 'Optimal Conditions for Contact' hypothesis states that the optimal conditions for contact are a) for people to be of equal status, b) it is a positive experience and c) out group members are perceived as typical.
I'm not so sure that the blue eye/brown eye workshop had these conditions because a) the two groups were not of equal status, b) there were may negative experiences (e.g. Terry) and c) the out groups members were not necessarily perceived as typical.
Just some thoughts that I had. I may be wrong... I do believe that this exercises does make people aware of the dangers that are created through prejudices.
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Hi Bethany,
Spot on, I think with this observation. The theory/research/argument in the textbook and as presented in the lecture suggest specific conditions under which the contact hypothesis is most likely to contribute to improving intergroup perceptions and relations - whereas the Blue Eyed / Brown Eyed work by Jane Elliot operates with some different assumptions. Two different models - both perhaps with some intriguing potential and risks.
However, it could perhaps be seen another way.... Elliot's original work and examples simply involved an exercise in which a group was split into two on the basis of an arbitrary physical difference (eye colour). So, in this original experiment, it wasn't designed to bring two pre-existing groups into contact in order to break-down prejudice. Rather people were given an experiential example of a prejudice which didn't previously exist. So the contact hypothesis here isn't particularly relevant.
However, in the Australian Eye, the two approaches are mixed up - i.e., contact between pre-existing groups (instead of eye colour it is Aboriginality), and then Elliot plays her game/script - which in this case has the effect of reversing the dominant power relationship, and resulting in new questions/debates such as you fairly raise.
Does that make sense? Hope so.
If you get a chance, checkout some of Elliot's earlier experiments on youtube or in the UC library.
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