Date of Graduation
5-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Social Work
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
School of Social Work
Advisor/Mentor
Stauss, Kimberly
Committee Member/Reader
Plassmeyer, Mark
Committee Member/Second Reader
Burris, Sidney
Committee Member/Third Reader
Marren, Susan
Abstract
Racism is perpetuated throughout American society and instilled in every aspect of communities, institutions, and government. The denial and misunderstanding of white privilege leads to the continuation of racism, inequality, and oppression. This pattern is particularly evident in Historically White Fraternities and Sororities (HWFS). Seeking to educate college students on white privilege, and consequently result in a less racist and more inclusive campus community, a month-long program was developed, implemented, and analyzed. The program included two sessions consisting of a presentation, experiential exercise, and discussion, and two optional reflective written assignments. This mixed methods study examined changes in participants’ levels of awareness and understanding of privilege, racism, and diversity throughout the program. A pretest and posttest measured the increased knowledge gained in regards to privilege and oppression. Semi-structured qualitative interviews explored lessons learned regarding the entire process of the project and examples of changes in individual perceptions. Ultimately, this project worked towards anti-racism efforts on the University of Arkansas campus and filling research gaps left by previous literature.
Keywords
white privilege, privilege, racism, greek life, sorority, fraternity
Citation
Browning, M. (2021). A Multi-Method Approach to Increasing the Recognition and Knowledge of White Privilege Among College Students: A Mixed Methods Research Study. School of Social Work Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/scwkuht/6