Do unto others as others have done unto you?: Perceiving sexism influences women's evaluations of stigmatized racial groups

Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2012 Sep;38(9):1107-19. doi: 10.1177/0146167212445210. Epub 2012 May 8.

Abstract

The present research examines how making discrimination salient influences stigmatized group members' evaluations of other stigmatized groups. Specifically, three studies examine how salient sexism affects women's attitudes toward racial minorities. White women primed with sexism expressed more pro-White (relative to Black and Latino) self-report (Studies 1 and 3) and automatic (Study 2) intergroup bias, compared with White women who were not primed with sexism. Furthermore, group affirmation reduced the pro-White/antiminority bias White women expressed after exposure to sexism (Study 3), suggesting the mediating role of social identity threat. Overall, the results suggest that making discrimination salient triggers social identity threat, rather than a sense of common disadvantage, among stigmatized group members, leading to the derogation of other stigmatized groups. Implications for relations among members of different stigmatized groups are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Attitude / ethnology*
  • Black or African American
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Minority Groups / psychology*
  • Perception
  • Prejudice*
  • Self Report
  • Social Behavior
  • Social Identification*
  • Social Perception
  • Stereotyping*
  • United States
  • White People
  • Young Adult