Observed gender differences in prescriptive gender stereotypes were smaller or non-existent for sexual and ethnic minority targets compared to straight and White targets

Hudson, Sa-kiera T. J., and Asma Ghani. 2021. “Sexual Orientation and Race Mute the Prescriptive Nature of Gender Stereotypes.” PsyArXiv. July 1. doi:10.31234/osf.io/9uxwz

Abstract: There is substantial research on the nature and impact of gender prescriptive stereotypes. However, there has been relatively little work on whether these stereotypes are equally applicable to men and women of different identities. Across two studies (total N = 1074), we assessed gender prescriptive stereotypes intersectionality in an American context, for men and women of different sexual orientations (Study 1) and races (Study 2). Results show strong evidence of a straight-centric bias, as prescriptive stereotypes of men and women most closely aligned with those of straight men and women, but limited evidence for a White-centric bias. Furthermore, observed gender differences in prescriptive stereotypes were smaller or non-existent for sexual and ethnic minority targets compared to straight and White targets, suggesting that theories around the dyadic nature of gender stereotypes between men and women might be restricted to straight and White men and women.