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On the psychological barriers to the workplace: When and why metastereotyping undermines employability beliefs of women and ethnic minorities.

Owuamalam, Chuma Kevin; Zagefka, Hanna

Authors

Hanna Zagefka



Abstract

We investigated the effect of beliefs about how one expects one’s group to be viewed by a dominant outgroup (i.e. meta-stereotypes) on disadvantaged group members’ employability beliefs. Grounded in the research on stereotype threat, we hypothesised that activating negative meta-stereotypes would undermine employability beliefs of members of disadvantaged groups because such beliefs threaten group members’ state self-esteem. In particular, we expected that an effect of negative meta-stereotyping on employability beliefs that is explained by momentary self-doubts would be particularly evident among members whose dispositional self-esteem is high rather than low to begin with. Taken jointly, results from a correlational study (N = 80) and an experimental one (N = 56) supported these hypotheses. The discussion focuses on the implications of our findings for mobility into the workplace among members of disadvantaged groups.

Citation

Owuamalam, C. K., & Zagefka, H. (2014). On the psychological barriers to the workplace: When and why metastereotyping undermines employability beliefs of women and ethnic minorities. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 20(4), 521-528. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037645

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 24, 2014
Publication Date 2014-10
Deposit Date Dec 6, 2023
Journal Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology
Print ISSN 1099-9809
Electronic ISSN 1939-0106
Publisher American Psychological Association
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 20
Issue 4
Pages 521-528
DOI https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037645
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1983751