Unpacking Race-Gender Associations: New Insights
Episode Overview
New research shows weaker race-gender associations in Black women and Asian men. Mouse tracking tasks reveal how social identities influence perception. Intersectionality affects perception, leading to gender categorisation errors. Biases impact interracial dating preferences, leadership selection, and sports. Understanding biases requires sustained effort and self-awareness.
Progress toward a less biased world requires sustained effort and self-awareness
In this thought-provoking episode, Michael D. dives into new research that sheds light on how people associate race with gender. The episode kicks off with an exploration of how our social identities, such as age, race, and gender, influence our perceptions. Michael discusses a study published in Social, Psychological, and Personality Science, which reveals that the stereotypical association of Black people with masculinity and Asian people with femininity is weaker in Black women and Asian men.
This suggests that occupying a counter-stereotypical identity can blunt these associations. Intriguing, right? But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Michael breaks down the study's methodology, including a mouse tracking task and questionnaires that reveal how participants' race-gender associations vary based on their own identities and cultural contexts. The episode also touches on the broader implications of these findings, such as their impact on interracial dating preferences, leadership selection, and athletic participation.
Michael brings in insights from Clara Wilkins, Assistant Professor of Psychological and Brain Science, who explains the ABCs of bias: affective (prejudice), behavioural (discrimination), and cognitive (stereotypes). She emphasises that even well-meaning individuals can exhibit biases that impact their behaviour toward different groups. Michael wraps up the episode by discussing how biases are shaped by cultural and personal identities and the importance of understanding these biases to reduce harmful actions.
He leaves listeners with a powerful reminder: progress toward a less biased world requires sustained effort and self-awareness. If you're curious about how intersecting identities shape our perceptions and behaviours, this episode is a must-listen. Dive in to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of race-gender associations and how they impact our daily lives.