The social construction of race: biracial identity and vulnerability to stereotypes.
Multiracial individuals are more likely to have a heightened awareness of race as a social construct than monoracial individuals. This article examines the impact that a heightened awareness of race as a social construct has on the relationship between racial stereotypes and performance. Study 1 finds that multiracial individuals reported subscribing less to the notion that race biologically determines ability. Study 2 finds that monoracial individuals show stereotype activation, whereas multiracial individuals show stereotype inhibition in reaction to race salience. Study 3 draws on the work on stereotypes and performance to test the susceptibility of multiracial individuals to racial stereotypes about ability. The authors find that Asian/White and Black/White multiracial individuals were less susceptible to racial stereotypes than monoracial individuals. Whereas monoracial participants showed significant performance changes in reaction to race salience, multiracial individuals did not. Study 4 finds that emphasizing the social construction of race buffers individuals from stereotype threat effects.
Shih
Margaret
M
Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. mjshih@umich.edu
Bonam
Courtney
C
Sanchez
Diana
D
Peck
Courtney
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007063:Identity Crisis; D008297:Male; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D012933:Social Identification; D013240:Stereotyping; D014481:United States