Bias in the Presidential Election

For Parents, Families, and Caregivers

 | 10 and up

Topic Summary

Elec­tion years often rich oppor­tu­ni­ties for parents and edu­ca­tors to talk with young people about civics, the elec­toral process, how government works and politics. During the 2016 presidential campaign, many people felt hesitant about how to raise the topic and specif­i­cally, how to approach the negative and biased dis­course that characterized much of the rhetoric that took place during that year's campaign.

The 2016 presidential election campaign, more so than previous campaigns, saw an unfortunate amount of hate-filled lan­guage, proposals based on biased assumptions and candidates bullying each other. There was a great deal of stereo­typ­ing of certain identity groups includ­ing women and immi­grants, threats to ban Mus­lim people from liv­ing in the coun­try and pro­nounce­ments that Islam “hates” Amer­ica, mock­ing dis­abled peo­ple, and polit­i­cal can­di­dates attack­ing one another based on their phys­i­cal appear­ance. In addition, there were at least twenty campaign events where violence took place.

And quite naturally, this polit­i­cal dem­a­goguery had an impact on young peo­ple. At the time, Mus­lim chil­dren expressed fear and sad­ness, some even ask­ing their par­ents if they were going to have to leave the coun­try after the elec­tion. At an Indi­ana high school bas­ket­ball game, students erupted into scream­ing and insults; the pre­dom­i­nately white team yelled at the oppos­ing play­ers and fans, who were a pre­dom­i­nately Hispanic team, chant­ing “no com­prende,” “speak Eng­lish” and “build the wall” (refer­ring to the pro­posal at the time that a wall be built on the Mex­i­can bor­der to keep immi­grants out).  Latin American and other immi­grant chil­dren worried that they would be deported when a new pres­i­dent was sworn into office. .

In 2016, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) surveyed approximately 2,000 teachers, finding that the 2016 election campaign was having “a profoundly negative impact on schoolchildren across the country.” Specifically:

• More than two-thirds of the teachers reported that students—mainly immigrants, children of immigrants and Muslim children—expressed concerns or fears about what might happen to them or their families after the election.
• More than half saw an increase in uncivil political discourse.
• More than one-third observed an increase in anti-Muslim or anti-immigrant sentiment.
• More than 40% were hesitant to teach about the election.

Regardless of political party, the tone and discourse during that time was counter to what many parents aspire to teach their children about respect, diversity, bias, language, stereotyping and civil discourse. While parents and teachers may have felt cautious to discuss the election, it is clearly important to talk about these issues so that young people, who see adults (including politicians) as role models, do not subconsciously integrate biased thinking into their own. It could have been--and can be in the future--a teachable moment. 

Age

10 and up

Questions to Start the Conversation

• Have your heard anything from friends and family members about what the 2016 presidential campaign was like? 
• Have you noticed bias and stereotyping in presidential and other elections more recently? How so? 
• Are there issues and topics you have heard from candidates that you agree with? Disagree with?
• In what ways do you think the tone of recent and past election campaigns have been positive and inclusive? How do you think they have been negative and biased?
• How do you think the language and tone of election campaigns impact young people's ideas about diversity, inclusion and equity?

Questions to Dig Deeper

• Have you noticed whether sometimes friends and peers mimic what they hear in election campaigns from political officials? How does that make you feel?
• When you hear friends and classmates make biased or stereotypical statements that are coming elections and political candidates, how can you address those comments?
• If you could meet local or federal candidates or election officials, what would you say to them about bias expressed in elections?

(SPLC's The Trump Effect: The Impact of the Presidential Campaign on Our Nation's Schools provides information that addresses some of these questions.)

Ideas for Taking Action

Ask: What can we do to help?  What actions might make a difference? 

• Learn more about the issues and be a critical consumer of election campaigns by watching debates, reading articles, studying the media portrayal of candidates, watching campaign advertisements and reading candidates’ speeches.
• If you want to support a particular candidate or issue, get involved in activism efforts around that issue or candidate.
• Share what you know and learn about the campaign with others by organizing an educational forum in school and/or sharing information on social media.