Anger stereotypes of Asian American women and men in the workplace: An intersectional perspective
Open Access
Author:
Nguyen, Christina Trinh
Area of Honors:
Psychology
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Stephanie A Shields, Thesis Supervisor Rick R Jacobs, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
anger negotiation Asian American women backlash
Abstract:
Anger in the workplace can be perceived differently, depending on the background of the expresser. I sought to learn about Asian Americans are perceived in the workplace in relation to anger displays. This study uses an intersectional lens to examine how stereotypes about race, gender, and emotion benefit or hinder the expresser. Race and gender are often studied in anger research, but very seldom are they studied simultaneously. I conducted a 2 (race) X 2 (gender) X 2 (emotion) between-subjects design with 283 participants. Given stereotypes of low expressivity of anger and emotionality for Asian Americans, the following hypotheses were tested: (1) Angry Asian Americans will be rated as having lower likelihoods of emotionality and anger expression than White Americans; (2) Asian American women will receive significantly more backlash for displaying anger than White women and men and Asian American men; and lastly, (3) Angry Asian American women will viewed as the least desirable to cooperate compared to angry White women and men and Asian American men. Hypothesis 1 was not supported as no significant race and/or gender main effects or interactions were found. Hypothesis 2 was not supported for Asian American women, but there was a main effect of emotion such that angry targets received more backlash. Lastly, Hypothesis 3 was not supported as Asian American men were found to be the least desirable to cooperate with.
