‘Blacks, Jews, gays and immigrants are taking over’: how the use of polling data can distort reality and perpetuate inequality among immigrants

AbstractAccording to public opinion polls majorities in the UK and US believe that increased immigration poses a serious threat to maintaining a shared common culture, strains social services, compromises national security and undermines the employment opportunities of long term native born residents. The average American believes the United States is 39% black, 26% Jewish, 33% Latino, 38% foreign born and 25% gay. These beliefs and estimates of group size are incorrect or vastly distort the impact immigrants have on society. What are the public policy implications, particularly for the foreign born population, when such distortions are the basis for how individuals respond to public policy survey questions? This paper examines how survey research may unintentionally cement stereotypes and result in public policy measures which increase social inequality.Keywords: immigrationgroup perceptionssurvey methods Additional informationNotes on contributorsCharles A. GallagherCHARLES GALLAGHER is Professor of Sociology at La Salle University.