Statistext
Encyclopedia
A statistext is a demographic category that is artificially contrived in pursuit of a political or ideological goal, particularly when categories are created that respondents would not otherwise apply to themselves. The term was created by Audrey Kobayashi, a Canadian geographer, in 1992.
In the United States, examples would be Hispanic
, Pacific Islander American
, or Asian American
. Examples of statistexts used by the Canadian government include Visible minorities
and certain of the groups comprising visible minorities, particularly West Asians, South Asians, and Latin Americans. These terms do not match the nomenclature such individuals would ordinarily apply to themselves, although sometimes statistexts gain acceptance among the people to whom the term is applied. As well, these contrived categories lump together distinct groups that would not otherwise perceive each other as members of the same group.
Another example of a statistext is the category "Canadian" as an ethnic choice on Canadian census forms. One demographer has speculated that as an ethnic identity, respondents might choose this to voice patriotism, or to rebel against ethnic classification, or to voice an anti-separatist
opinion, and furthermore, that the term has very different connotations in English versus French. (See footnote 5 in .)
The word "Indian", allegedly created by Christopher Columbus
for the Indigenous people of the Americas, is another example of a statistext. While Columbus's use of this term initially had nothing to do with censuses, this contrivance did enable him to classify people in a way that coincided with the goal of finding a trade route to India.
The nomenclature of minority groups has a number of effects. Statistexts can empower people in some instances and marginalize them in others. Some may be demoralized by the nomenclature applied to them, as when a Canadian feels the visible minority label highlights one’s “outsider” or “exotic” background. In other instances, nomenclature applied to a minority group may enable them to present a united front for political mobilization.
In the United States, examples would be Hispanic
Hispanic/Latino naming dispute
The Hispanic/Latino naming dispute refers to the ongoing disagreements over the use of the ethnonyms Hispanic and Latino to refer to the inhabitants of the United States who are of Latin American or Spanish origin, i.e. Hispanic and Latino Americans, a vast group. The usage of both terms has...
, Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
, or Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
. Examples of statistexts used by the Canadian government include Visible minorities
Visible minority
A visible minority is a person who is visibly not one of the majority race in a given population.The term is used as a demographic category by Statistics Canada in connection with that country's Employment Equity policies. The qualifier "visible" is important in the Canadian context where...
and certain of the groups comprising visible minorities, particularly West Asians, South Asians, and Latin Americans. These terms do not match the nomenclature such individuals would ordinarily apply to themselves, although sometimes statistexts gain acceptance among the people to whom the term is applied. As well, these contrived categories lump together distinct groups that would not otherwise perceive each other as members of the same group.
Another example of a statistext is the category "Canadian" as an ethnic choice on Canadian census forms. One demographer has speculated that as an ethnic identity, respondents might choose this to voice patriotism, or to rebel against ethnic classification, or to voice an anti-separatist
Quebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
opinion, and furthermore, that the term has very different connotations in English versus French. (See footnote 5 in .)
The word "Indian", allegedly created by Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
for the Indigenous people of the Americas, is another example of a statistext. While Columbus's use of this term initially had nothing to do with censuses, this contrivance did enable him to classify people in a way that coincided with the goal of finding a trade route to India.
The nomenclature of minority groups has a number of effects. Statistexts can empower people in some instances and marginalize them in others. Some may be demoralized by the nomenclature applied to them, as when a Canadian feels the visible minority label highlights one’s “outsider” or “exotic” background. In other instances, nomenclature applied to a minority group may enable them to present a united front for political mobilization.
See also
- Employment equity (Canada)Employment equity (Canada)Employment equity, as defined in Canadian law by the Employment Equity Act, requires employers to engage in proactive employment practices to increase the representation of four designated groups: women, people with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples, and visible minorities...
- EthnonymEthnonymAn ethnonym is the name applied to a given ethnic group. Ethnonyms can be divided into two categories: exonyms and autonyms or endonyms .As an example, the ethnonym for...
- Hispanic/Latino naming disputeHispanic/Latino naming disputeThe Hispanic/Latino naming dispute refers to the ongoing disagreements over the use of the ethnonyms Hispanic and Latino to refer to the inhabitants of the United States who are of Latin American or Spanish origin, i.e. Hispanic and Latino Americans, a vast group. The usage of both terms has...
- OrientalismOrientalismOrientalism is a term used for the imitation or depiction of aspects of Eastern cultures in the West by writers, designers and artists, as well as having other meanings...
- Visible minorityVisible minorityA visible minority is a person who is visibly not one of the majority race in a given population.The term is used as a demographic category by Statistics Canada in connection with that country's Employment Equity policies. The qualifier "visible" is important in the Canadian context where...