Not so Black and White: Different Races, Different Discrimination
[Thesis]
Pope, Terrence
Cheryan, Sapna
University of Washington
2021
51 p.
Master's
University of Washington
2021
Racial and ethnic minority groups are not stereotyped uniformly (Zou & Cheryan, 2017). This may play an important role in which groups appear more qualified to employers hiring for jobs with stereotype-relevant qualifications (e.g. - English fluency). Across 3 studies with undergraduates, MBA students, and adults online participated as hiring managers and evaluated a series of applicants for a position described in a fake job ad. Findings show that that racial groups stereotyped as foreign (e.g., Asian, Hispanic, and Arab Americans) are considered less qualified for "American" jobs while those stereotyped as low status (e.g., Hispanic, Arab, and African Americans) are considered less qualified for "high-status" jobs. This work also introduces evidence for the mediating role of racial stereotypes on perceptions of qualification. The higher participants rated applicants along stereotyping measures of perceived cultural foreignness and status, the less qualified applicants seemed for jobs with stereotype-relevant qualifications. This research paints a picture of discrimination inclusive of the heretofore rarely examined experiences of prejudice faced by non-black racial minorities as well as those of women from these same backgrounds.