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Along which identity lines does 21st-century Britain divide? Evidence from Big Brother

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Tom Lane

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This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by SAGE Publications, 2020.

For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.


Abstract

This article measures discrimination in the reality TV show Big Brother, a high-stakes environment. Data on contestants’ nominations are taken from 35 series of the British version of the show, covering the years 2000–2016. Race and age discrimination are found, with contestants more likely to nominate those of a different race and those different in age from themselves. However, no discrimination is identified on the basis of gender, geographical region of origin, or level of education. Racial discrimination is driven by males, but females exhibit stronger age discrimination than males. Age discrimination is driven by the younger contestants discriminating against the older. Regional differences emerge, particularly between contestants from Greater London and those from the north of England; northerners have a stronger tendency to engage in racial and age discrimination, and to discriminate in favour of the opposite gender.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Lane T

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Rationality and Society

Year: 2020

Volume: 32

Issue: 2

Pages: 197-222

Print publication date: 01/05/2020

Online publication date: 10/02/2020

Acceptance date: 01/02/2020

Date deposited: 05/09/2023

ISSN (print): 1043-4631

ISSN (electronic): 1461-7358

Publisher: SAGE Publications

URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/10434631209040

DOI: 10.1177/1043463120904049


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