Dog whistles are coded phrases or terms that appear neutral or benign on the surface but carry hidden, harmful, meanings. In this article I aim to explore some of them and their historical context, how they function, and why they remain effective in modern times.
What's an example of a dog Whistle?
A common example of a racist dog whistle is the phrase "states' rights." On the surface, it sounds like a neutral political idea about decentralizing power to give individual states a chance to do things their way. However, historically, it has been used to signal opposition to federal civil rights laws, particularly during the 20th century in the U.S. For instance, in the 1950s and 1960s, "states' rights" was often used by segregationists to justify resisting racial integration and equal rights for Black Americans. Today, "states rights" is being used to circumvent stablished Federal law to strip away equal opportunity and bodily authonomy rights.
Another example is the term "urban" or "inner city," which is sometimes used as a coded way to refer to Black or minority communities, often with negative connotations tied to crime or poverty. These terms perpetuate stereotypes while appearing neutral or merly descriptive on the surface.
Dog whistles like these allow awful people to express dehumanizing ideas indirectly, making them harder to challenge while still resonating with those who understand the hidden meaning.
How Dog Whistles Work
Dog whistles rely on shared cultural or ideological knowledge within a specific group, while remaining vague or neutral to others. Here's how they are understood differently by different audiences:
For the Users and Their Intended Audience
- The people who use dog whistles and their target audience often share a common set of beliefs, values, or historical references. For example, a politician using the phrase "states' rights" might know that their supporters associate it with resistance to civil rights advancements. In modern times the term 'anti DEI" carries pretty much the same racist message.
- These groups recognize the coded language because it aligns with their shared worldview or experiences. It creates a sense of belonging or solidarity among them, as they feel par of the "in group".
For the Uninformed Population
- To those outside these groups, the language often sounds neutral, harmless, or even unrelated to any controversial issue. For example, someone unfamiliar with the historical context of "states' rights" might interpret it as a simple political stance on federalism or "small government".
- Because the message is indirect, it can be difficult for outsiders to recognize the underlying meaning or intent, especially if they don’t share the same cultural or ideological background or are uninterested in history and the lived experiences of people unlike them.
For the Targets of the Dog Whistle
- The groups being targeted, like racial, ethnic or other minorities, often recognize the dog whistle because they have experienced the harm or discrimination associated with it. For instance, Black communities might immediately understand the negative connotations of terms like "urban" or "inner city."
- This recognition can create feelings of exclusion, frustration, or fear, specially when used by people who have power over them, as they see the hidden message being used to marginalize or attack them.
Why Dog Whistles Are So Pernicious
- Plausible Deniability: Because the language appears neutral, users can deny any harmful intent if challenged, claiming they were misunderstood.
- Reinforcement of In-Group Identity: It strengthens the bond among those who understand the code, creating a sense of unity and shared purpose.
- Avoiding Accountability: By masking controversial or harmful ideas in seemingly innocent terms, users can avoid direct criticism or backlash from the broader public.
So, why should I care?
Dog whistles exploit the gap between explicit meaning and implicit meaning. This allows them to communicate divisive or harmful ideas subtly, while flying under the radar for those who aren’t aware of the hidden context. It is a cowardly way of exploiting people's ignorance to communicate despicable ideas and still appear to be decent instead of the racist, mysoginistic or transphobic assholes that they truly are. That is why it is important to learn to recognize dog whistles and to call out the people who uses them.