Researchers look to find why the Dutch are still holding to the traditional image of Black Pete despite the criticism

Peer-Reviewed Publication

THE POLISH ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

 

IMAGE: SINTERKLAAS & BLACK PETE view more 

CREDIT: WERNER WILLEMSEN

Analogous to Santa Klaus in the West, every December, the saint Sinterklaas brings gifts to the good children in the Netherlands. However, the latter is not assisted by a Christmas elf, but by what appears as a ‘devilish’ helper, called Black Pete. 

Even though Pete’s face is said to be black due to the soot he picks as he jumps down the chimneys, in the Netherlands, there has been growing concern that the figure is largely racist. Black people in the Netherlands - mainly of Caribbean descent - have often reported being insulted by being called ‘Black Pete’.

Apart from the character’s stereotypical looks (e.g., black or brown face paint, red lips, golden hoop earrings, and afro wigs), he also plays a subservient role as Sinterklaas’ helper, whose task is to make sure that the presents are in order and delivered. 

As Black people in the country are continuously calling for Black Pete to have his image changed, the ethnic Dutch population remains convinced that the character is an innocent part of the culture and the lore. 

Now, researchers at the Leiden University: Daudi van Veen, Rosanneke A. G. Emmen and Judi Mesman, report on their study on whether it is a tradition or social hierarchy that the ethnic Dutch wish to preserve. Their scientific paper was published in the peer-reviewed, open-access scholarly journal Social Psychological Bulletin.

In their study, the researchers used data from an earlier Dutch survey meant to assess various items, including national identification, self-esteem, preference for social hierarchy, self-stereotypes referring to the Dutch, and feelings for Dutch caricatures. 

Interestingly, the research concluded that national identification, but not preference for social dominance, was what could significantly be associated with positive attitudes towards the Sinterklaas festivities. In the meantime, it was both national identification and preference for social hierarchy that could be correlated with positive attitudes towards Black Pete.

“These findings suggest that among ethnic Dutch people, acceptance of the unequal treatment of minority groups is related to resistance to changing the appearance of Black Pete,” conclude the authors of the present study.

  

CAPTION

Black lives matter and Black Pete demonstration (Leeuwarden, Netherlands)

CREDIT

Arnold Bartels

Research article: 

van Veen, D., Emmen, R. A. G., & Mesman, J. (2022). National Identification, Social Dominance Orientation, and Attitudes Towards Black Pete in the Netherlands: Person- and Variable-Centered Analyses. Social Psychological Bulletin, 17, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.32872/spb.7853

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JOURNAL

Social Psychological Bulletin

DOI

10.32872/spb.7853 

ARTICLE TITLE

National Identification, Social Dominance Orientation, and Attitudes Towards Black Pete in the Netherlands: Person- and Variable-Centered Analyses