Although the fastest-growing youth demographic in the U.S. is biracial individuals, there is little research documenting the stereotypes that exist.
“Not Quite Monoracial: Biracial Stereotypes Explored,” published this week by Northwestern University, examines the under-explored topic of stereotypes attributed to various biracial groups.
Dr. Sylvia Perry, co-lead author of the study and assistant professor of psychology in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern, said many models about stereotyping and prejudice were developed around monoracial groups.
This is based in history, as many biracial or multi-racial people have self-identified as Black. The increase in people identifying as multi-racial or biracial, as well as an increase in interracial relationships, has invited closer examination.
“For us, this is a hole in the literature on people’s perceptions on this growing group,” said Perry. “Now that there is greater representation in the world, it would be interesting to further understand the potential differences between how people perceive monoracial individuals compared to biracial individuals.
“Social psychologists try to think about what is currently going on in the world and what might be most relevant to people’s day-to-day experiences,” she added.
Previous research noted stereotypes exist that biracial individuals may be perceived as being less socially skilled, less competent and socially colder than monoracial individuals. That research, Perry explained, focused on the stereotype that biracial people feel they don’t fit in, which may prompt them to feel awkward and have less social interactions.
