Racial Stereotypes and Interracial Attraction

Phenotypic Prototypicality and Perceived Attractiveness of Asians

Wilkins, Clara L.
Chan, Joy F.
Kaiser, Cheryl R.

¹Department of Psychology, Wesleyan University
²Department of Psychology, University of Washington

Clara L. Wilkins, Department of Psychology, Wesleyan University, 207 High Street, Middletown, CT 06459-0408 [email protected]

Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology 17(4):p 427-431, October 2011. | DOI: 10.1037/a0024733

What does it take to find a member of a different race attractive? In this research, we suggest that for Whites, attraction to Asians may be based, in part, on stereotypes and variations in Asians' racial appearance. Study 1 reveals that Asians are stereotyped as being more feminine and less masculine than other racial groups—characteristics considered appealing for women but not for men to possess. Study 2 examines how variation in racial appearance, phenotypic prototypicality (PP), shapes the degree to which Asians are gender stereotyped and how PP relates to perceptions of attractiveness. Higher PP Asian men are perceived as being less masculine and less physically attractive than lower PP Asian men. These findings inform theory on how within-group variation in racial appearance affects stereotyping and other social outcomes.