Literature Review Blog # 3

Race and Class Matters at an Elite College ( Book by 
Elizabeth Aries)









In this book Aries interviews students from different classes and social backgrounds, over a period of four years. She interviews them thrice, since their freshman year in college. The authors explains in this book that many students come from segregated communities, and have concepts of stereotypes, and these concepts come into play when they enter college and get a platform to interact with others.
She says that colleges can play a vital role in changing student's concepts about stereotypes. She provides a rare glimpse into the challenges faced by black and white college students. Aries chronicles what students learned from racial and class diversity-and what colleges might do to help their students learn more. Aries quotes sociologist Karabel, who states that ". . . the powers in higher education became to recognize that . . . taking strong measures to rectify racial injustice was not simply a moral imperative; it was also a matter of enlightened self-interest at a time when the existing order was under challenge"(chapter 1 page 2). here she talks about how universities were focused to increase diversity at their campuses for self-interest. She also states " The vastly increased diversity in race and class in the student body not only afforded opportunities for social mobility to underrepresented minorities and students with less financial means;it also had potential to increase student's understanding to those different to themselves and to challenge previous notions about race and class" (chapter 1 page 2). It means that when students from different backgrounds were admitted to colleges,they could be around people belonging from different races and form their  perceptions about this interactive experience . She also quotes Harvard social psychologist, who in his book,  " Prejudice (unless deeply rooted in the character structure of the individual) may be reduced by equal status contact between majority and minority groups in pursuit of common goals"chapter 1 page5). This also refers to as a solution to mend the gap between racism at college. Furthermore, Aries also states that " The social science literature suggests that people in an in-group (e.g., the majority) tend to see members of an out-group (e.g, the minority) as homogeneous and lacking in variability, while themselves as more heterogeneous. This sets stage for stereotyping"(chapter 1 page 5). I think it's an important quote for my research as it gives a reason for the concept of racism and stereotypes. People tend to have different thoughts for one's who are similar to them, than those who have a different race and class. So, we can say that "in group" and "out group" differences can be the cause of racism and stereotypes. This book is relevant to my research as it does not only provides theoretical concept or racism, stereotypes, it's effects and solutions, in fact it is written and based on the field experience online questionnaires and face-to-face interviews.

 Elizabeth, Aries. "Race and Class Matters at an Elite College." N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.
(It's a book so I am attaching a link for it's e book  version on google)