Prototypes and Stereotypes in the Intersectional Representation of Gender, Race, and Sexual Orientation Categories

Chapter 1: Category prototypes, prevalence, and social status: Intersectional representations of gender and race categories in Italy, United States, and South Africa. We analyzed (pre-registered Pilot, Study 1-3; in Italy, the US, and South Africa) prototypical representations, perceived base rates, and status of race (White and Black people) and gender (men and women) categories to understand how androcentrism and ethnocentrism intersect. White and Black people were prototyped as men, and especially for Black people, across countries. Men and women were prototyped as White across countries, and especially for women, in the US and Italy (Pilot). In Italy and the US, participants overestimated the base rates of White men among men and White people, while in South Africa they estimated higher prevalence of Black over White people and men over women. In Italy and South Africa, participants particularly overestimated the salaries of White men among men and White people, while US participants estimated higher salaries for White over Black people and men over women. Results are discussed in light of the intersectionality literature. Chapter 2: Intersectional Asymmetry in the Cognitive Combination of Gay Men and Black Men. The current studies addressed the strength of oppositional stereotypes between Black men and gay men (Study 1-2) and the manner in which perceivers combine stereotypes about Black men and gay men (Study 3). As pre-registered, in Study 1, a conjunction fallacy effect was produced both through cuing stereotypes of Black men (Study 1a) and gay men (Study 1b). In Study 2, we used a within-subject design as a more stringent test of the conjunction fallacy effect. Although not pre-registered, a clear asymmetry emerged: the conjunction fallacy effect was stronger when stereotypes of Black men were cued (Study 2a), than when stereotypes of gay men were cued (Study 2b). Study 2, and in part Study 1, suggested that it is easier to cognitively combine the categories “Black men” and “gay men” if a target is stereotyped as a gay man than if he is stereotyped as a Black man. Guided by the suggested asymmetry, we found that in an updating paradigm, the category “Black” more easily integrated with gay than “gay” with Black. The novelty of the current research lies in the investigation of the directionality of this cognitive combination.