Intersectionality of ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation: Intergroup bias towards immigrants in Canada

Abstract

Most research on bias towards immigrants has engaged itself with the generic immigrant, lacking ethnicity, gender, and/or sexual orientation. This research examines stereotypes towards heterosexual, gay and lesbian immigrant men and women from four leading source nations to Canada (i.e., Britain, China, Iran, Nigeria) per two studies, using the Stereotype Content Model (SCM). Study 1 utilizes methodology traditionally used by SCM by examining 232 second and third generation (or higher) Canadians’ (of Western and Northern European ancestry) perception of societal biases related to the immigrant subgroups of focus. Study 2 extends these findings by exploring 1105 participants’ own biases towards the immigrants, incorporating SCM within a contextualized vignette factorial design. Results show a variety of univalent and ambivalent stereotypes directed at the 16 immigrant groups of focus. Although stereotype patterns clustered mostly by ethnicity in Study 1, patterns based on participants’ own biases in Study 2 showed more nuanced interplay of all three group memberships. Overall results revealed that prototypical immigrants (i.e., heterosexual men), generally, received stereotype patterns similar to those found in previous research for their respective ethnic groups, whereas non-prototypical immigrants’ (women and sexual minorities) ratings diverged from this pattern and showed more interplay. Results show the importance of intersectional and multidimensional frameworks for intergroup bias research. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed with the hope that future research will utilize these results to extend our knowledge in the area and, thus, contribute to the cultivation of more equal spaces and opportunities for diverse pool of immigrants.