Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Multiple Forms of Prejudice: How Gender and Disability Stereotypes Influence Judgments of Disabled Women and Men

  • Published:
Current Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study examined how gender and disability stereotypes interact to influence social judgments. We predicted that people would judge a woman with physical disability more negatively than a woman with intellectual disability, but that there would be a less pronounced difference for judgments of men with physical and intellectual disability. Participants (N = 173) read short descriptions of a male or female character who was physically or intellectually disabled. They evaluated the character’s warmth and competence and reported how much social distance they wanted from the character. Contrary to our expectations, participants reported significantly less desire for social distance from physically disabled women than intellectually disabled women. As predicted, evaluations of men were not affected by the type of disability the target character possessed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrams, D., Jackson, D., & St. Claire, L. (1990). Social identity and the handicapping functions of stereotypes: children’s understanding of mental and physical handicap. Human Relations, 43, 1085–1098. doi:10.1177/001872679004301103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bem, S. (1974). The measurement of psychological androgyny. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42, 155–162. doi:10.1037/h0036215.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blaine, B. E. (2013). Understanding the psychology of diversity (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bogardu, E. S. (1932). Social distance scale. Sociology and Social Research, 17, 265–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, L., & Wilbur, C. J. (2009). Are the traits we prefer in potential mates the traits they prefer in themselves? An analysis of sex differences in the self-concept. Self and Identity, 8, 418–446. doi:10.1080/15298860802505434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Census Bureau. (2008). Current Population Report on Americans with Disabilities:2005. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/prod/2008pubs/p70-117.pdf.

  • Chen, R. K., Brodwin, M. G., Cardoso, E., & Chan, F. (2007). Attitudes toward people in with disabilities in the social context of dating and marriage: a comparison of American, Taiwanese, and Singaporean college students. Journal of Rehabilitation, 68, 5–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, E. R. (2009). Intersectionality and research in psychology. American Psychologist, 64, 170–180. doi:10.1037/a0014564.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diekman, A. B., & Eagly, A. H. (2000). Stereotypes as dynamic constructs: women and men of the past, present, and future. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26, 1171–1188. doi:10.1177/0146167200262001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dion, K., Berscheid, E., & Walster, E. (1972). What is beautiful is good. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 24, 285–290. doi:10.1016/0022-1031(71)90065-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eckes, T. (2002). Paternalistic and envious gender stereotypes: testing predictions from the stereotype content model. Sex Roles, 47, 99–114. doi:10.1023/A:1021020920715.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fine, M., & Asch, A. (1984). Disabled women: sexism without the pedestal. In women and disability: the double handicap. Eds. M.J. Deegan and N.A. Brooks. Transaction Publishers.

  • Fiske, S. T., Cuddy, A. J. C., Glick, P., & Xu, J. (2002). A model of (often mixed) stereotype content: competence and warmth respectively follow from perceived status and competition. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 878–902. doi:10.1037//0022-3514.82.6.878.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frazier, P. A., Tix, A. P., & Barron, K. E. (2004). Testing moderator and mediator effects in counseling psychology research. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 51, 115–134. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.51.1.115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fredrickson, B. L., & Roberts, T. (1997). Objectification theory: toward understanding women’s lived experiences and mental health risks. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21, 173–206. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.1997.tb00108.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanna, W. J., & Rogovsky, B. (1991). Women with disabilities: two handicaps plus. Disability Handicap and Society, 6, 49–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hardin, M., & Preston, A. (2001). Inclusion of disability issues in news reporting textbooks. Journalism and Mass Communication Educator, 56(2), 43–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harth, R. (1971). Attitudes toward minority groups as a construct in assessing attitudes toward the mentally retarded. Education and Training in Mental Retardation, 6, 142–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, M. S., & Fischer, A. R. (2008). Examining objectification theory: lesbian and heterosexual women’s experiences with sexual- and self-objectification. The Counseling Psychologist, 36, 745–776. doi:10.1177/0011000007301669.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howland, C. A., & Rintala, D. H. (2001). Dating behaviors of women with physical disabilities. Sexuality and Disability, 19, 41–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, G. E., & Stone, D. L. (1995). Perceived discomfort associated with working with persons with disabilities. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 81, 911–919.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kozee, H. B., & Tylka, T. L. (2006). A test of objectification theory with lesbian women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 30, 348–357. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2006.00310.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leasher, M. K., Miller, C. E., & Gooden, M. P. (2009). Rater effects and attitudinal barriers affecting people with disabilities in personnel selection. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 39, 2236–2274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd, M. (1992). Does she boil eggs? Toward a feminist model of disability. Disability Handicap and Society, 7, 207–221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Louvet, E. (2007). Social judgments toward job applicants with disabilities: perception of personal qualities and competencies. Rehabilitation Psychology, 52, 297–303. doi:10.1037/0090-5550.52.3.297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Louvet, E., Rohmer, O., & Dubois, N. (2009). Social judgment of people with disability in a workplace: how to make a good impression on employers. Swiss Journal of Psychology, 68, 153–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Novak, J., Feyes, K. J., & Christensen, K. A. (2011). Application of intergroup contact theory to the integrated workplace: setting the stage for inclusion. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 35, 211–226. doi:10.3233/JVR-2011-0573.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nowicki, E. A. (2006). A cross-sectional multivariate analysis of children’s attitudes toward disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 50, 335–348.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oswald, D. L., & Lindstedt, K. (2006). The content and function of gender stereotypes: an exploratory investigation. Sex Roles, 54, 447–458. doi:10.1007/s11199-006-9026-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ouellette-Kuntz, H., Burge, P., Brown, H. K., & Arsenault, E. (2010). Public attitudes towards individuals with intellectual disability as measured by the concept of social distance. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 23, 132–142. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3148.2009.00514.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, J. H., Faulkner, J., & Schaller, M. (2003). Evolved disease avoidance processes and contemporary anti-social behavior: prejudicial attitudes and avoidance of people with physical disabilities. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 27, 65–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, M. J. (1990). Damaged goods: oral narratives of the experience of disability in American culture. Social Science and Medicine, 30, 849–857.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Regan, P. C., & Berscheid, E. (1997). Gender differences in characteristics desired in a potential sexual and marriage partner. Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality, 9, 25–37. doi:10.1300/J056v09n01_02.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rohmer, O., & Louvet, E. (2009). Describing persons with disability: salience of disability, gender, and ethnicity. Rehabilitation Psychology, 54, 76–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rohmer, O., & Louvet, E. (2012). Implicit measures of the stereotype content associated with disability. British Journal of Social Psychology, 51, 732–740.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saxton, M., & Howe, F. (Eds.). (1988). With wings: an anthology of literature by women with disabilities. London: Virago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, J. R., & Neuberg, S. L. (2008). When do the stigmatized stigmatize? The ironic effects of being accountable to (perceived) majority group prejudice-expression norms. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95, 877–898.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sheldon, A. (2004). Women and disability. In J. Swain, S. French, C. Barnes, & C. Thomas (Eds.), Disabling barriers—enabling environments. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soder, M. (1990). Prejudice or ambivalence? Attitudes toward persons with disabilities. Disability Handicap and Society, 5, 227–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stamou, A. G., & Padeliadu, S. (2009). Discourses of disability by teacher candidates: a critical discourse analysis of written responses to a disability simulation. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 39, 509–540.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toriello, P. J., Leierer, S. J., Sheaffer, B. L., & Cubero, C. G. (2007). Threat and visibility impact of disabilities and other conditions on social distance preferences. Rehabilition Education, 21, 159–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Towler, A. J., & Schneider, D. J. (2005). Distinctions among stigmatized groups. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 35, 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Kraayenoord, C. (2002). The media’s portrayal of mothers with disabilities. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 49(3), 221–224. doi:10.1080/1034912022000007252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yazbeck, M., McVilly, K., & Parmenter, T. R. (2004). Attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities: an Australian perspective. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 15, 97–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young, R., Gore, N., & McCarthy, M. (2012). Staff attitudes toward sexuality in relation to gender of people with intellectual disability: a qualitative study. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 37, 343–347.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jill M. Coleman.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Coleman, J.M., Brunell, A.B. & Haugen, I.M. Multiple Forms of Prejudice: How Gender and Disability Stereotypes Influence Judgments of Disabled Women and Men. Curr Psychol 34, 177–189 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-014-9250-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-014-9250-5

Keywords

Navigation