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Racial social norms among Brazilian students: Academic performance, popularity, and racial identification

Author

Listed:
  • Alysson Portella

    (a Department of Economics, Insper Institute of Education and Research, São Paulo, 04546-042, Brazil;)

  • Charles Kirschbaum

    (a Department of Economics, Insper Institute of Education and Research, São Paulo, 04546-042, Brazil;; b Centro de Estudos da Metrópolo, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-010, Brazil;)

  • Naercio Menezes-Filho

    (a Department of Economics, Insper Institute of Education and Research, São Paulo, 04546-042, Brazil;; c Department of Economics, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-010, Brazil)

Abstract

Among the possible explanations for the racial differences in academic performance observed in the United States is “acting White,” which refers to a trade-off between academic performance and popularity faced by minority students. Using data from Brazil, another country with a long history of racial discrimination, we find that non-White students do not face such a dilemma, especially when we account for the role of non-White friendship ties in overall social status. We also find a weak negative relationship between grades and racial identification with the mixed-race group. Our results provide insights for understanding racial relations, not only in Brazil, but also in the United States, in the light of the recent demographic trends in this country.

Suggested Citation

  • Alysson Portella & Charles Kirschbaum & Naercio Menezes-Filho, 2022. "Racial social norms among Brazilian students: Academic performance, popularity, and racial identification," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 119(27), pages 2117956119-, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nas:journl:v:119:y:2022:p:e2117956119
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