UC Davis

Advancements have been made in identity politics research, yet identity in times of disruption and crisis is understudied. Focusing on the 2008 economic recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, I analyze nationally representative survey data to explore various aspects related to linked fate, perceptions of the pandemic, and vaccine hesitancy.First, using data from the Collaborative Multiracial Post-Election Survey (CMPS), I find that Black linked fate was lower in 2012, challenging the assumption that economic concerns weaken Black unity. Financial hardship did not impact levels of linked fate for Blacks, and there are no systematic racial/ethnic differences in levels linked fate among those experiencing financial struggles. These findings suggest that Black linked fate and economic concerns may be reinforcing in this context. Using the 2020 View of the Electorate Research (VOTER) Survey, I examine the relationship between several identity factors and perceptions of the disproportionate health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. I explore whether perceptions juxtapose with data. I find ethic differences among partisans, except for Democrats. The effect of gender is conditional on Hispanic ethnicity, suggesting that these factors play a significant role in shaping perceptions of the pandemic. Lastly, using 2020 CMPS data, I demonstrate that the more conservative and younger a respondent is, the more likely they are to be vaccine hesitant. In contrast, older adults are unresponsive to ideology, possibly due to differences in risk perception, social media exposure, and interactions with trusted healthcare providers. Overall, my findings suggest the importance of investigating the mechanisms behind these relationships using experimental designs. These findings also highlight the importance of refined linked fate survey measures, since linked fate appears to be an important factor behind perceptions in the contemporary climate.