Racial stereotypes and interracial attraction: Phenotypic prototypicality and perceived attractiveness of Asians.

Abstract

What does it take to find a member of a different race attractive? In this research, we suggest that for Whites, attraction to Asians may be based, in part, on stereotypes and variations in Asians' racial appearance. Study 1 reveals that Asians are stereotyped as being more feminine and less masculine than other racial groups-characteristics considered appealing for women but not for men to possess. Study 2 examines how variation in racial appearance, phenotypic prototypicality (PP), shapes the degree to which Asians are gender stereotyped and how PP relates to perceptions of attractiveness. Higher PP Asian men are perceived as being less masculine and less physically attractive than lower PP Asian men. These findings inform theory on how within-group variation in racial appearance affects stereotyping and other social outcomes.

Intersecting Cultural Beliefs in Social Relations

“…Documenting the implicitly gendered images of racial stereotypes, Galinsky, Hall, and Cuddy (forthcoming) found that Black men and women were rated as more masculine (vigorous, strong, masculine) and less feminine (gentle, feminine), while Asian men and women were rated as less masculine and more feminine compared to white men and women. Wilkins, Chan, and Kaiser (2011) report similar results and also found that the more stereotypically Asian a man's appearance, the less masculine he was rated as appearing (although there were no such associations for Asian women). Galinsky, Hall, and Cuddy (forthcoming) also found an association between gender and race stereotypes at the implicit level.…”

Masculinities and ethnicities: Ethnic differences in drive for muscularity in British men and the negotiation of masculinity hierarchies

“…It is quite likely that the experiences of ethnic minority men that contribute to drive for muscularity are heterogeneous. For example, men of South Asian ancestry may be at higher risk for drive for muscularity because of their smaller relative stature, perceived difficulties gaining muscle mass (Watt & Ricciardelli, ), or more negative perceptions of masculinity (Wilkins et al ., ). While ethno‐cultural definitions of masculinity appear to be evolving among South Asian communities (Lawrence, ), it also seems likely that some Asian men desire greater muscularity to contest social space in defiance of what they see as stereotypical portrayals of frail Asian male bodies (Haywood & Mac an Ghaill, ; Hill, ).…”

“…This may place Asian men at greater risk for drive for muscularity, insofar as they perceive a larger discrepancy between their current and ideal body sizes. Compared to men of other ethnic groups, Asian men may also be perceived as less masculine (Wilkins, Chan, & Kaiser, ), which may contribute to a desire to gain muscle mass in order to counter negative stereotypes. Asian men may also experience competing pressures to conform to masculine and muscular ideals, on the one hand, and traditional Asian values that run counter to the highly muscular and ‘macho’ concept of Western masculinity (Pompper, ).…”

Intercultural Dating at Predominantly White Universities in the United States: The Maintenance and Crossing of Group Borders

“…For example, among White men entering into an intercultural marriage, 46% married a Latina, 27% married an Asian woman, and only 7% married a Black woman; among White women entering into an intercultural marriage, 51% married a Latino, 20% married a Black man, and only 9% married an Asian man. Wilkins, Chan, and Kaiser [14] suggest that these racial/ethnic-by-gender gaps in intermarriage stem from racial/ethnic stereotypes about femininity and masculinity that shape perceived attractiveness.…”