Can music change ethnic attitudes among children?

Abstract

The study assessed the effectiveness of a musical programme at reducing anti-dark-skinned stereotyping among light-skinned Portuguese children aged 7-10 years, as measured through the Preschool Racial Attitude Measure II (Williams et al., 1975). The programme consisted of introducing a sub-series of Cape Verdean songs into the series of regular Portuguese songs studied and learned by the pupils during school music courses. At the beginning of the study, all children showed a moderate mean level of pro-white-skinned/anti-dark-skinned stereotyping. At the end of the study, the level of stereotyping among the control group of pupils who were not exposed to Cape Verdean songs ( N = 97) was not altered, but the level of stereotyping among the pupils exposed to the programme ( N = 96) was significantly reduced. Strong differences as a function of age were evidenced: among participants aged 7-8 years, there was practically no change in stereotyping; in contrast, there was a dramatic change among 9- to 10-year-olds.