South Africa gender stereotypes: divided in our interdependency

Abstract

This research project perspective addresses intergender relations from an intergroup perspective, specifically from the stereotype perspective. In three studies (N = 1048), we explored the existence of the compensation effect in the auto-, hetero, and meta-stereotypes of South African females and males. Moreover, we examined the effects of gender identification (Study 1: N = 334; Study 2: N = 238), perceived gender relations (Study 2: N = 238), and social context (Study 3: N = 476) on gender stereotypes, as well as how intergender stereotypes influence intergender behaviour mediated through emotions (Study 3: N = 476). The present results confirmed the compensation effect in males and found evidence that gender stereotypes are affected by status perceptions. Moreover, the present research showed how hetero-stereotypes directly influence intergroup behaviour and indirectly through intergroup emotions. These results have implications for understanding and researching gender stereotypes within the South African context.