Competence Perceptions at the Intersection of Gender and Race-Ethnicity

Bibliographic Data

ID11325504
AuthorsTrenton D Mize (0000-0002-9654-3709, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume88
Issue2
Pages271-284
Publication date2025-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Psychology Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0190-2725 • E-ISSN: 1939-8999
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/01902725241289875
OpenAlexW4404199202
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited24

Competence perceptions represent a fundamental dimension of human perception and have wide-ranging consequences for social interaction. Therefore, it is no surprise that multiple prominent social psychological theories emphasize the role of competence perceptions. We know that both a person’s gender and race-ethnicity influence assumptions about their competence, but we have only a few studies examining the intersections of these factors. Using a large survey experiment (N = 1,219), I examine competence perceptions at the intersection of 2 gender and 13 racial-ethnic categories. Results show large effects of both gender and race-ethnicity and also highly intersectional stereotypes; that is, there is no one overarching effect of gender or race-ethnicity but instead contingent effects. By oversampling racial-ethnic minorities, I also test the assumption of consensus for competence perceptions. Results show highly consensual perceptions, suggesting we all recognize society’s stereotypes even if we do not agree with them

Competence (human resources · Developmental psychology · Ethnic group · Geography · Intersection (aeronautics · Perception · Race (biology · Sociology · Gender Diversity and Inequality · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Gender Studies · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology

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