Philippine E-Journals

Looking at the World through Multi-colored Glasses: Exploring the Incipient Viewpoint of Racism in Filipino Children

Kristine Joy N. Aquino | Kathleen Joyce V. Pedrosa | Rene M. Nob

Discipline: Psychology

 

Abstract:

The study focused on exploring the incipient viewpoint of racism among 32 children who were put in two age groups: ages 4-6, and 7-11 years of age. This phenomenological research design utilized the purposive sampling technique, and in-depth and follow up interviews of the participants. In order to analyze the phenomenological data, the thematic content analysis was used. In addition, the concept of race was defined by the participants using three general domains, namely: identifying physical differences, categorizing and labeling differences, and giving meanings to the categories. Race was studied using the respondents' thoughts and opinions, and their ideals and degree of identification with these dolls: Chinese (Mongolian), Filipino (Austronesian), American (Caucasian), and African (Negroid). Results also showed that the differences in children's conceptions according to age is that younger children foremost differentiate race in terms of physical characteristics with them reacting towards the dolls' hair and skin color; it has been proven that younger kids are not able to specifically point out specific racial differences while older children have been observed to possess a more definite understanding of race. Older children are keener in identifying variations of race which confirms the idea that a conception of race is more developed and/or established in those from older age groups.