Anglo Conformity: Top 10 Ways it’s Reinforced
Anglo conformity pressures begin in early childhood. We are encouraged to behave like everyone else and believe white cultural norms are the best way for everyone. Conformity is reinforced in various ways, including family discussions about race, school curricula, and social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram.
Conformity refers to the tendency of people to follow societal trends. In a society that values white American cultural norms and behaviors, having minority groups with separate cultures and identities is a significant problem for many.
This article discusses the origins of Anglo conformity, why people conform, and the ten ways it is reinforced. It also explains why conformity harms racial minorities and why embracing diversity is best for all.
One of the First Examples of Anglo Conformity in the US
The Know Nothing Party is the first example of Anglo Conformity in American history. It was a political movement that arose during the 18th century and was founded by white Americans who felt threatened by immigrants moving into their communities. They believed that immigrants were taking jobs away from them and would also threaten their culture and way of life.
The party’s slogan, “America for Americans,” reflected the belief that only native-born [white] people could be Americans. The party gained power during election campaigns, primarily when it targeted Irish Catholics who were seen as outsiders because they weren’t white enough.
However, this wasn’t just an anti-immigrant sentiment. It also included anti-Catholic sentiments. German and English Americans who felt threatened by these newcomers’ religious beliefs began what would become known as Anglo Conformity.
How Anglo Conformity Has Persisted into the Present Day
It’s easy to assert that what others think shouldn’t matter. But if that were so, life would be so much easier. What makes Anglo conformity so prevalent are two things.
First, it’s a phenomenon that has gone unnamed such as whiteness.
Anglo conformity is a concept that few have heard about. Nowhere (that I am aware of) does it say that people from other cultures must act and behave according to Anglo norms to be accepted. The Constitution even guarantees our right to be different. And yet, the messages are all around us.
Many will insist that Anglo cultural norms and traits are American norms and traits. Without a general understanding that white Americans have their own culture, we learn to view the American identity as inherently white. This misunderstanding makes it all the easier to encourage and even shame others into acting more American.
Confusing Anglo conformity with assimilation makes it all the easier to believe you’re doing the right thing by not passing your heritage on to your children.
Second, we learn early on to view white people and their ways as normal.
Whiteness defines itself as normal. We develop an understanding of this view early on and may come to believe it, consciously or not, even when we know it’s wrong.
The idea of whiteness as normal is a powerful and insidious force in American society. This belief is so pervasive that many people, even those not white, often view white people and their ways as normal. Behaviors, norms, and traits that deviate from white norms are often seen as abnormal or other. Even the different foods of other groups are considered abnormal or exotic.
The Three Key Components of Anglo Conformity
Shame
People are aware of negative stereotypes and racist ideas about their ethnic and racial groups.
So often, we conform out of shame rather than desire. Just about every individual from marginalized group’s has what I call the conformity origin story. It often occurs between childhood and adolescence. This memory is the time or situation that made them feel deeply ashamed of their identity or culture. And although the memory itself may not seem significant to the individual, it is the memory they reflect on when they think of shame and whitness.
It could be the shame they felt from bringing their friends to their home after school and getting told the house smelled strange. These different scents are often caused by using spices and herbs uncommon to the white American culture.
Suppose you are bilingual in Spanish and English. More and more people in the last half century have begun associating Spanish speakers with laziness and people who are a burden for taxpayers. Although not being fluent in English has nothing to do with laziness or reliance on government assistance, you understand that people don’t like Spanish speakers. And this causes a sense of shame around your Spanish-speaking abilities.
The Need for Acceptance
The desire to be accepted by others can lead to compromises in self-identity.
The pressures of Anglo conformity start early in life. Studies show that children as young as three understand society’s ideas about race. Children from marginalized groups will see societal inequality and observe the highly negative messages about non-whites and highly positive messages about whites.
If you must navigate a society with negative ideas about the people who look like you, you might not think twice about doing whatever it takes to gain approval and acceptance from those people.
Now, imagine that you are fluent in English and Spanish again. And because of negative experiences, you have developed shame around speaking Spanish. As a result, you may pretend you don’t speak Spanish when white people are present. This way, you avoid the negative experiences you’ve come to expect and continue to happen to other people.
Positive Reinforcement
Racial and ethnic minorities get rewards and praise for conforming to dominant cultural norms and values.
Conformity is a way to fit in and avoid social ostracization, and it’s a way to prevent social isolation, rejection, and exclusion.
The reason why people conform is because they want to be accepted by their peers. You will likely remain an outsider if you don’t fit into the group. Often, marginalized individuals are not conscious of the fact they’ve conformed. As racial and ethnic minorities, we grow up with dual identities. And those dual identities can conflict.
Let’s go back to the Spanish-speaking American scenario. One day, your neighbor begins talking to you because they need to express their frustrations to someone. They begin talking about the need for Spanish speakers in the office and resent that Americans are making it easy for immigrants to get away with not learning to speak English.
They end their rant by saying they’re sorry if their opinion is upsetting, but it’s how they feel. Without hesitating and despite how you genuinely feel about the way they speak about Hispanics/Latinx people, you say it’s okay. You proceed to blurt out, “I agree! I speak Spanish but I learned how to speak English just fine!”
You receive positive reinforcement because you’re Hispanic and agree that people should only speak English in this country. Your neighbor may even go as far as to express the desire for more Hispanics to be like you. And because they now see you as more American than you are other, they start spending more time with you.
These types of decisions come at the expense of inauthenticity.
The Top 10 Ways Anglo Conformity is Reinforced:
1. Whiteness defines itself as “normal,” promoting the notion that white culture is superior. This ideology is ingrained in every individual through messages conveyed by the media and the people in our circles, including our families.
2. Stereotypes about non-Anglo cultures play a significant role in perpetuating a culture of Anglo conformity. This results in a lack of appreciation for the diversity and richness of other cultures. These stereotypes lead to discrimination and prejudice.
3. Many people believe that Western culture is superior to other cultures. This belief is often reinforced by presenting countries outside of Europe, particularly Asia, Africa, and Latin America, as inferior to the West. The emphasis we place on individualism further reinforces the idea that developing countries are so because their individuals are inherently flawed.
4. The idea that non-Anglo cultures are inherently dangerous has persisted in many societies. This perception is often based on stereotypes that cast non-Anglo people as exotic, uncivilized, and violent. These stereotypes are self-serving as they encourage the belief in white supremacy.
5. A belief in individualism, which can support racism, reinforces Anglo conformity. This is done by failing to acknowledge that we do not always have total control over our circumstances. By refusing to accept systemic inequities that may have contributed to the disproportionate inequity between groups, we ignore realities and blame the victims.
6. Christianity, the dominant religion in the US, reinforces Anglo conformity, and this is done by emphasizing specific values and beliefs that align with Anglo culture. Overall, while Christianity may have historically been used to reinforce Anglo conformity, it is ultimately up to individuals to interpret and practice their faith in a way that is meaningful to them and their cultural identity.
7. The Anglo culture of conformity in the school system can be seen as reinforcing a more significant societal trend of Anglo conformity. This occurs in how white American society expects and rewards “acting white.” It is worth noting that the US school system is operated by the government and by a majority of white American staff, which may contribute to the perpetuation of this trend.
8. Social pressures reinforce Anglo conformity. These pressures are not only felt by immigrants but by native-born United States citizens. The media, education system, and societal norms contribute to these pressures.
9. The media plays a significant role in shaping our perceptions of the world. Unfortunately, it often reinforces Anglo conformity by perpetuating stereotypes. This can lead to a narrow view of the world and a need for more understanding and empathy for people from diverse backgrounds.
10. The reluctance to acknowledge, teach, and discuss history from a non-Eurocentric viewpoint means that the ongoing impacts of colonization are practically invisible to those not well-versed in the subject. The narratives we repeat to avoid uncomfortable topics and feelings of shame reinforce Anglo conformity. For instance, we might believe and insist that while the genocide and appropriation of Indigenous land was a terrible thing, the United States of America would not exist today without colonization.
The Consequences of Anglo Conformity on Minority Groups
The consequences of this dominance are far-reaching. Minority groups are more likely to be bullied, discriminated against, mistreated, and second-class citizens. Rather than learning to feel pride in one’s identity, the dominant group suppresses it to be accepted and treated well.
This is damaging not only for individual members of these groups but also for society because it perpetuates stereotypes about what people should be like based on their race or ethnicity. If we teach kids that they should conform (or hide), we tell them that everyone should act just like white people and that differences are bad.
The Consequences of Anglo Conformity on White People
This way of thinking about people prevents white people from developing relationships outside their group. As a result, they become limited in their perceptions and knowledge of the world around them. Worse, they uphold the very system they may believe they do not support.
Rather than viewing this information as an attack on white goodness and individual merit, white people need to acknowledge how they have benefited from a system that upholds Anglo conformity and actively works towards dismantling it. Otherwise, individuals are supporting the system they claim to despise.
This can be done by seeking diverse perspectives, challenging stereotypes and biases, and advocating for policies promoting equity and inclusion. It is a responsibility that all white people must take on if we are to create a more just and equitable society for everyone.
Conclusion
People may feel that language and culture are essential aspects of their identity. Still, dominant group members must learn to accept and embrace that people are different. You might find you’re not so different when you get to know the same people you have avoided.
The concept of Anglo conformity is not only outdated, but it’s also profoundly racist. It could take a long time, if ever, for Anglo conformity to be a thing of the past. In the meantime, we can develop an understanding of this concept, actively resist, and insist on the right for all people to be different.
This is a great article and my favorite part is the examples. Growing up, I absolutely heard white folks say, “this is america, learn to speak english.” However, the United States doesn’t have an official language. And like you pointed out in the article, indigenous groups are native to the United States. By bringing up these examples and showing the ways White culture destroys differences is fantastic. We’re a melting pot of culture, people, and languages. The diversity adds to the richness of this country and to reiterate your last point, maybe we’re more similar to one another than we are different.