A Quantitative Study of Self-Stereotyping and Selective Self-Stereotyping by Sorority Women

In an attempt to further the knowledge of who is responsible for stereotyping and continuing stereotypes, 150 sorority women were surveyed to obtain their views on common stereotypes of sorority members. While existing literature suggests that stereotypes tend to be endorsed by out-group members, the present study explored whether sorority women (the in-group) perpetuate stereotypes of their own group. Results reveal that sorority women do support existing (and predominately negative) stereotypes of sororities. However, they engage in selective self-stereotyping strategies. These strategies include accepting positive (e.g. pretty) but not negative (e.g. promiscuous) stereotypes for themselves and viewing themselves and their own sorority as different from sorority women in general. The results also reveal that race/ethnicity, GPA, leadership roles, length of time in the sorority, classification, and sorority house residence relate to sorority women’s tendency to stereotype their own group.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sociology

Grantor

Texas State University-San Marcos

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Lobban, Kathleen

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Watt, Toni

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Giuffre, Patti
• McKinney, Audrey

• sociology
• sororities
• selective-self stereotyping
• stereotypes
• self-stereotyping
• group bias

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10877/4205

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/4205