New research co-authored by Faculty Affiliate Sarah Gaither, Associate Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience at Duke University, explores how something as routine as demographic forms can influence feelings of inclusion and identity among marginalized communities.
Published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, the study—“Enumeration or Exclusion? Demographic Forms and Latine Identity”—investigates how demographic questions may unintentionally trigger social identity threat and perceptions of institutional exclusion, particularly for Latine Americans.
Across four studies, the researchers examine how the structure and wording of demographic forms can shape how individuals understand their identity and their relationship to institutions, specifically before and after the 2020 Presidential election and leading up to the 2024 election. The findings suggest that these forms are not neutral tools for data collection; rather, they can signal who is recognized, who is counted, and who belongs.
Read the article here: Enumeration or Exclusion? Demographic Forms and Latine Identity Threat