Solidarity Imbalances After Racism and Sexism: Black Americans Are Expected to Express High Solidarity but Anticipate Lower Solidarity From Racial/Ethnic Outgroups

Abstract

Because claiming discrimination is not always taken seriously, marginalized groups may consider cues about whom to trust in providing support and solidarity. Black, Hispanic, and Asian participants (Study 1; N = 931) and women (Study 2; N = 1,207) from the United States imagined someone made a discriminatory comment to them and rated the likelihood of being supported by an individual who varied in identity and past solidarity-related behavior. Participants anticipated more support from their own racial/ethnic group for racism and from women for sexism, and then anticipated support by the following groups: Black > Hispanic > Asian ≥ White and women > men. Past behavior boosted anticipated support, especially from outgroups. Strikingly, we found solidarity imbalances; groups consistently anticipated that Black people would support them, yet Black people anticipated lower support from racial/ethnic outgroups.