The rocky road from experience to expression of emotions—women’s anger about sexism

We investigated women’s anger expression in response to sexism. In three studies (Ns = 103, 317, and 241), we tested the predictions that women express less anger about sexism than they experience—the anger gap—and that the anger expressed by women is associated with instrumental concerns, specifically perceived costs and benefits of confronting sexism. To estimate the specificity of the proposed gap, we compared women’s anger reactions to men’s anger reactions as well as anger reactions to sadness reactions. Across studies, we found support for the anger gap, that is, lower anger expression than experience, and the gap was more pronounced for women than for men (Study 3). Surprisingly, a gap also occurred in sadness reactions. Regarding instrumental concerns, there was converging evidence that expressed anger was negatively associated with individual costs. We also investigated whether anger expression can be encouraged through women’s identification with feminists (Studies 1 and 2) and support by other women (Study 2); yet, we found no evidence. We conclude that, to understand women’s—and men’s—reactions to sexism, it is critical not to mistake their emotion expression for how they really feel, but instead to also consider strategic concerns.Security and Global Affair

Meta-stereotypes and meta-prejudice: Some suggestions for future research.

The present paper shows a process directly related with meta-stereotypes and that may influence intergroup relations: meta-prejudice. Meta-prejudice refers to the way in which people expect other groups to feel about their group. The main question is whether the obtained findings about meta-stereotypes are just the consequence of activated meta-stereotypes, or whether it is meta-prejudice that caused the effects. Previous research by Gordijn and colleagues about the relation between meta-stereotypes and meta-prejudice, how they are activated and their effect on intergroup relations are analyzed and discussed.<br/

When thinking that you are fat makes you feel worthless: Activation and application of meta-stereotypes when appearance matters.

This research examined whether normal-weight people who believe they are overweight expect that other people negatively stereotype them when their appearance becomes relevant. Moreover, it was examined whether these negative "meta-stereotypes" in turn make people feel worthless. Indeed, the first study showed that body weight dissatisfied women automatically activated negative meta-stereotypes about being overweight when they thought their appearance was evaluated. Study 2 revealed that only meta-stereotypes about being overweight, and not traits that are unrelated to the meta-stereotype, mediate the relation between body weight dissatisfaction and self-evaluation. Study 3 replicated this finding by manipulating body weight dissatisfaction. Finally, study 4 revealed that body weight dissatisfied women are especially likely to feel negative about themselves as a result of applying negative meta-stereotypes when their body is visible