The University of California at Berkeley played host to a national academic conference on "whiteness studies," an offshoot of ethnic studies that focuses on Caucasians. Some participants specialized in the culture of underprivileged poor whites (e.g., Spam diets, chainsaw art, gun shows), while others with a more pronounced political viewpoint sought to break up the dominance of "white privilege."

A doctoral student in attendance rejected the suggestion that whiteness studies lacks seriousness, commenting: "They said that about ... 'Madonna studies,' too."

†