| The main thesis of this dissertation is that whites' attitudes toward unpopular groups, such as undocumented immigrants, affect their support for "universal," programs such as government supported health care. More specifically, I argue that the complex racialization of Latinos and the specific ways in which they are stereotyped and constructed as illegal immigrants influences whites' views of government supported health care. This argument adds to the existing literature on race, policy, and public opinion in two critical ways. First, traditional literature largely focuses upon whites attitudes toward blacks. I contend it is critical to go beyond this black-white dichotomy and examine whites' attitudes toward other marginalized groups as well, specifically, Latinos and undocumented immigrants. Since Latinos are the largest minority group, and undocumented immigrants continue to be a growing part of American society, I argue it is important to examine white racial attitudes toward these groups also, in order to completely understand the effect of white racial attitudes on public policies. Second, I focus on a policy that Americans view as universal, health care. This contributes to the existing literature on race, and policy because this literature largely focuses on policies that are linked to a certain segment of the population, such as welfare policy which is intended for low-income people. My project shows the continuing important role racial attitudes play in shaping American attitudes toward public policies. |
