About this session

Friday, 1:20 PM - 2:50 PM

Macro Ideologies of Inequality in Child Development: The Case of Christian Nationalism in the USA

Recent calls within the field of developmental science have underscored the critical need to address macro-ideologies of inequality as key elements of the structural context in which child development occurs (Arbeit et al., 2024; Rogers et al., 2021). Christian Nationalism is one such dominant ideological and political force that has received minimal attention in the field of child development despite its central role in driving societal norms and policies that exacerbate societal inequalities in the United States (Nalani & Yoshikawa, 2023). Defined as a political ideology and cultural framework that advocates for the fusion of American civic life with a specific interpretation of Christianity (emphasizing nativism, white supremacy, authoritarianism, patriarchy, and militarism), Christian Nationalism is as a strong predictor of racist and xenophobic attitudes, eclipsing traditional political and religious alignments (Whitehead & Perry, 2020). Beyond individual prejudice, this ideology also affects social cohesion and weakening democratic governance structures. As several studies show, support for Christian Nationalism is the leading predictor of endorsement of restrictive policies, including those that limit equitable access to gender affirming care and inclusive education in public schools. The ideology also predicts resistance towards gun control and support for policies that curtail immigrant and voting rights, even after accounting for religiosity and political party affiliation. Now, more than ever, developmental scientists must engage with this prevailing ideology, not as external observers but as active participants within the broader movements challenging structural inequalities.

This roundtable will facilitate a critical examination of how the potent ideology of Christian Nationalism shapes the upbringing, education, health, and overall development of children growing up in America, with a particular emphasis on children and families in rural areas and Southern states. It is crucial to recognize Christian Nationalism not merely as a fringe belief but as a central master narrative of identity influencing the mental, physical, and social health of the nation. This ideology acts as a boundary marker that delineates in-groups and out-groups, profoundly influencing the distribution of resources in society. As a political force and social movement, its prescribed cultural vision is at odds with the diverse makeup of modern American society. As such, it is an example of an ideology that justifies and reinforces societal inequalities.

The panelists include two scholars whose primary expertise is in racial ideologies, moral identities and mental health and well-being among rural families and communities in the U.S. South, one scholar with expertise in evaluating the impact of social policies and programs on families and children, and a scholar whose expertise combines developmental science and community organizing against fascism and white supremacy to promote adolescent development. Panelists include:

Caroline R. Efird, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Health Management and Policy, Georgetown University. Dr. Efird uses mixed-methods to investigate how whiteness influences the health and well-being of racially majoritized and minoritized populations. Her research illuminates how racialized social systems, including religious spaces, influence mental health beliefs and attitudes of residents in a changing rural landscape of the U.S. South. She brings expertise in the application of critical race theory to psychology to more effectively understand and address the social and structural drivers of health disparities and inequities.

Miriam R. Arbeit, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, Suffolk University. Dr. Arbeit's scholarship integrates antifascist praxis with developmental theory, providing a framework for how empirical research can link to collective resistance to ideologies like Christian Nationalism, white supremacy, and cis-hetero-patriarchy. Their current research includes developing strategies for youth practitioners to interrupt far-right and fascist attempts to recruit youth into their ranks and how sexual violence prevention practices can address threats posed by male supremacists.

Linda M. Burton, Ph.D., former dean, professor and Eugene and Rose Kleiner chair for the study of processes, practices and policies in aging, School of Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Foundation on Child Development and has held leadership positions on numerous boards, councils and committees. Dr. Burton's research integrates ethnographic, neuroscience, developmental and demographic approaches and examines the roles that inequality, poverty and intergenerational family dynamics play in the lives of children, adolescents and adults in urban and rural families.

Hirokazu Yoshikawa, Ph.D., Courtney Sale Ross Professor of Globalization and Education, and University Professor, NYU. Dr. Yoshikawa studies the effects of public policies and programs related to immigration, early childhood, youth development, and poverty reduction on human development across the lifespan. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the William T. Grant Foundation and the National Board for Educational Sciences of the US Department of Education. In a recent white paper, Dr. Yoshikawa examined how the limitation effect of restrictive education policies shapes educational opportunity in K-12 public schools in Florida.

All panelists will respond to the following questions:
Considering the pervasive influence of ideologies like Christian Nationalism,how do you incorporate the examination of related concepts and ideologies into your research on psychology, health and child development?
Given the potential for ideologies like Christian Nationalism to shape child development in complex ways, what methodological and interdisciplinary innovations do you suggest for research that not only observes but actively challenges such influences?
What strategies do you recommend for ensuring researcher and participant safety, respecting the complex cognitive, cultural and political dynamics that arise when studying sensitive ideological influences in developmental science?
What implications do you foresee for the field of developmental science if it successfully integrates a more critical examination of ideologies such as Christian Nationalism into its mainstream research agenda?

We will reserve time for audience members to offer further questions and comments, and we will end with sharing a list of resources that scholars can use in applying what they learned to investigate macro-ideologies of inequality in developmental science. Attendees will be equipped with the motivation and the practical tools necessary to foster an integrative developmental science that meticulously accounts for macro-ideologies of inequality as part of the context that shapes, and is shaped by, child development.

Recent calls in developmental science emphasize addressing macro-ideologies of inequality, such as Christian Nationalism, to understand their impact on child development. Christian Nationalism predicts racist and xenophobic attitudes more than conventional political or religious views, threatening social cohesion and democratic institutions. Investigating this ideology’s influence on child development at this critical juncture in the United States confronts child development scholars with three key problems. First is the problem of interdisciplinarity: “how can we effectively integrate insights from other fields to comprehensively understand the impact of ideologies like Christian Nationalism on child development?” Second is the problem of method: “in what ways can research methodologies be adapted to not only study but actively resist and dismantle the insidious effects of fascist ideologies within developmental contexts?” And third is the problem of emphasis: “how do we balance the focus on the pernicious effects of such ideologies on marginalized groups while also considering their reinforcement and propagation within dominant groups, ultimately affecting societal norms and democratic processes?” This roundtable will engage a multidisciplinary panel of scholars to examine these questions. Panelists will also discuss innovative research strategies and methodological tools to better position developmental science to mitigate Christian Nationalism’s influence. The roundtable thus supports SRCD’s strategic goals to advance an integrative developmental science that more fully accounts for culture, diversity and societal context to improve human lives. The moderator will be Dr. Andrew Nalani (Assistant Professor of Human and Organizational Development, Vanderbilt University) who researches cultural/political ideologies’ influences on youth development. Recent calls in developmental science emphasize addressing macro-ideologies of inequality, such as Christian Nationalism, to understand their impact on child development. Christian Nationalism predicts racist and xenophobic attitudes more than conventional political or religious views, threatening social cohesion and democratic institutions. Investigating this ideology’s influence on child development at this critical juncture in the United States confronts child development scholars with three key problems. First is the problem of interdisciplinarity: “how can we effectively integrate insights from other fields to comprehensively understand the impact of ideologies like Christian Nationalism on child development?” Second is the problem of method: “in what ways can research methodologies be adapted to not only study but actively resist and dismantle the insidious effects of fascist ideologies within developmental contexts?” And third is the problem of emphasis: “how do we balance the focus on the pernicious effects of such ideologies on marginalized groups while also considering their reinforcement and propagation within dominant groups, ultimately affecting societal norms and democratic processes?” This roundtable will engage a multidisciplinary panel of scholars to examine these questions. Panelists will also discuss innovative research strategies and methodological tools to better position developmental science to mitigate Christian Nationalism’s influence. The roundtable thus supports SRCD’s strategic goals to advance an integrative developmental science that more fully accounts for culture, diversity and societal context to improve human lives. The moderator will be Dr. Andrew Nalani (Assistant Professor of Human and Organizational Development, Vanderbilt University) who researches cultural/political ideologies’ influences on youth development.

Session moderator
Dr. Andrew Nalani, Vanderbilt University, United States

Panelists
Dr. Caroline R. Efird, Georgetown University , United States
Dr. Miriam R. Arbeit, Ph.D., Suffolk University , United States
Hirokazu Yoshikawa, Ph.D., New York University , United States
Linda Burton, Ph.D., University of California - Berkeley , United States

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