Assessing Stereotypes of Asian Women (SAW) and Responses to Anti-Asian Hate Crime

• In Event: Public Perceptions of Victims and Defendants: Identity, Traits, and Stereotypes

Abstract

Objective: In recent years, Asian community leaders and scholars have called for a deeper understanding of anti-Asian hate and more action to end violence against Asian women. The first steps in addressing gendered anti-Asian hate crime may be to understand stereotypes of Asian women (SAW) as well as how those stereotypes may shape how the public perceives and responds to crimes against Asian women.
Data/Methods: We develop a novel measure of SAW, focusing on four dimensions of SAW identified by a literature review: 1) exotic and foreign, 2) submissive and docile, 3) sexy and seductive, and 4) self-centered and cold. We then assess the convergent, discriminant, and construct validity of the novel scale using a nationally representative sample collected (N = 1,300) and an oversample of Asian Americans (N = 200). Both samples are collected via YouGov.
Results: We expect SAW to shape responses to punishment of defendants involved in hate crimes against Asian women and the victimization of Asian women by influencing perceptions of victims.
Conclusions/Implications: The results shed light on the concept of stereotypes against Asian women in the context hate crime in the U.S.

Authors

• Luzi Shi, University of Rhode Island

• Jason Silver, Rutgers University - Newark