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WHITE DENIAL [3 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2023-11-08
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Social Problems
- Sociology of Human Relations
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- white diversion
1, record 1, English, white%20diversion
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
... a phenomenon in which white people may obstruct dialogue or acknowledgement of race-based discrimination by redirecting or comparing the subject to other social issues. 1, record 1, English, - white%20diversion
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
White diversion can be an example of both conscious and unconscious bias, depending on the type and the situation. For instance, a knee-jerk response may come from a place of unconscious bias; however, denial and diversion are often more rooted in conscious bias. The underlying distinction comes from the acting subject's intentions. 1, record 1, English, - white%20diversion
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Problèmes sociaux
- Sociologie des relations humaines
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- diversion par les personnes blanches
1, record 1, French, diversion%20par%20les%20personnes%20blanches
proposal, feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- diversion par les Blancs 1, record 1, French, diversion%20par%20les%20Blancs
proposal, feminine noun
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2023-07-27
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Social Problems
- Sociology of Human Relations
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- white denial
1, record 2, English, white%20denial
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
White denial has been identified as a defensive response by white people, in which [the] realities of inequality are denied or downplayed. One example is the claim that racism simply does not exist. 2, record 2, English, - white%20denial
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Problèmes sociaux
- Sociologie des relations humaines
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- dénégation par les personnes blanches
1, record 2, French, d%C3%A9n%C3%A9gation%20par%20les%20personnes%20blanches
feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
- dénégation par les Blancs 2, record 2, French, d%C3%A9n%C3%A9gation%20par%20les%20Blancs
feminine noun
- déni par les personnes blanches 1, record 2, French, d%C3%A9ni%20par%20les%20personnes%20blanches
masculine noun
- déni par les Blancs 1, record 2, French, d%C3%A9ni%20par%20les%20Blancs
masculine noun
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 2023-07-20
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Social Problems
- Sociology of Human Relations
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- white defensiveness
1, record 3, English, white%20defensiveness
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
White defensiveness is a term to describe defensive responses by white people to discussions of societal discrimination, structural racism, and white privilege. 1, record 3, English, - white%20defensiveness
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Academics have proposed subtypes of white defensiveness, such as white denial, white diversion, and white fragility. 1, record 3, English, - white%20defensiveness
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Problèmes sociaux
- Sociologie des relations humaines
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- attitude défensive des personnes blanches
1, record 3, French, attitude%20d%C3%A9fensive%20des%20personnes%20blanches
proposal, feminine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
- attitude défensive des Blancs 1, record 3, French, attitude%20d%C3%A9fensive%20des%20Blancs
proposal, feminine noun
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
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