Long wonk/debate-prep thread: a VERY short list of the cultural characteristics that affect group success outcomes like income would have to include: median AGE, "illegitimacy"/fatherlessness rate, study culture (hours per day), region of residence (urban/rural, North/South)...
(2) geographic isolation/mountains, diet and health, traditional religion (are WOMEN educated?), number of kids per family and age of birth (long an issue for Catholics), strength of in-group ties, immigration status, grades expected by parents, rate of true literacy, etc.
(3) Contemporary racism, the ~uni-variate focus of many sociologists and not a few political scientists, is obviously ALSO a factor that can predict success. But, age, region, education, etc. must be adjusted for before gaps are simply attributed to it. Often, the gaps vanish.
(4) A response here is: "Well, all those gaps must INDICATE racism." Nah. Many of the traits listed have persisted for centuries across multiple societies for quite large groups (i.e. Jews), and the correlation between perceived discrimination and group success is VERY low. 
(5) A new argument in this space seems to be "Well, then, cultural PERSISTENCE must indicate racism (!)" - i.e., in a non-racist diverse society, all 'sticky' group gaps should quickly vanish and any evidence that they do not simply indicates the prevalence of The One True Cause.
(6) But this doesn't make sense. There are many documented reasons (Sowell 2005; Chua 2014) why groups keep identities for generations: shared religion (Ethiopians), voluntary segregation, regional living (Cajuns), trades associated w the group ("Italian chef"), plain pride, etc.
(7) And, even where group identity does eventually fade, it takes a WHILE. I read this today: almost all Asian immigrant kids are bi-lingial during 1st and 2nd (and 3rd) generations; the actual "Asian immigrant effect" on test scores doesn't fade for ~5: scholar.princeton.edu/sites/default/…
(8) My final take is that the cultural variables listed (a) exist and (b) measure real things. It is more useful for me to teach Black and Appalachian mentees to study more and dress well than to "recognize the White Gaze"...and there is no reason that can't be done nationally.
(9) In conclusion, always be multivariate.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
