HereCR

From GoodWiki

[edit] Elizabeth Page-Gould's Summary of Findings from the Accompanying Review

The findings from this review indicate that structural factors can actively affect intergroup relations. Changes in school structure from tradition to cooperative learning programs increase children's formation of cross-race friendships, as well as friendship quality. The research suggests that encouraging cooperative learning programs while maintaining small, diverse classrooms will increase proportions of cross-race friendships among school children. Interracial friendships appear to be less stable, but individuals with high proportions of cross-race friends have greater stability and interracial friendship quality than individuals with low proportions of cross-race friends. Therefore, children with high proportions of interracial friendships appear to be more open to future cross-race interactions. Cross-race friendships reduce racial bias and increase social competence and leadership skills. Overall, it appears that U.S. society could greatly benefit from an upcoming cohort of leaders with increased positivity towards intergroup relations and multicultural sensitivity.

Social distance is the degree to which one allows particular social groups to become part of their close social network. Interracial romantic relationships represent the smallest degree of social distance. Although interracial relationships are uncommon, they are characterized by mutual respect, support, and collective orientations towards common goals, which is in stark contrast to popularly held beliefs that interracial romantic relationships must be inherently dysfunctional. Individuals tend to enter interracial romantic relationships for the same reason others enter same-race romantic relationships: compatible personality characteristics. Unfortunately, interracial romantic relationships endure the harsher societal rejection than cross-race friendships which may pose a significant barrier towards their formation and maintenance. However, Americans who grow up in integrated neighborhoods and schools are more likely to be involved in an interracial romantic relationship.