The role of gender in shaping Black and Latina women’s experiences in anticipated interracial interactions

People's fear of being negatively stereotyped or devalued based on one or more of their social identities — social identity threat — contributes to negative anticipated experiences in interracial interactions. Prior research, however, has largely failed to consider the role of gender in shaping people's experiences in interracial interactions. To address this gap, the present research examined the implications of anticipated cross-gender interracial interactions among Black and Latina women who experience social identity threat based on their multiple marginalized identities. Across three studies, Black and Latina women imagined (Study 1) or anticipated (Studies 2 and 3) an interaction with a White man or a White woman. In the third study, Black and Latina women anticipated a cross-gender (vs. gender-matched) interaction with a same race/ethnicity partner or White partner. Compared to women who expected to interact with a White female partner, Black and Latina women who imagined or anticipated an interaction with a White male partner reported more perceived partner prejudice. Greater perceived partner prejudice, in turn, increased their levels of social identity threat, which predicted more anticipated negative interpersonal outcomes (e.g., anticipated trust and belonging, friendship interest) in the interaction. These results suggest that for Black and Latina women, the negative effects of interracial interactions may be most pronounced in cross-gender interracial interactions.