Gender Stereotypes Accommodation: A Study with Romanian Immigrants in Spain

Abstract

Evidence suggests that, during the acculturation process, immigrants' stereotypes of different social groups relevant in the host culture can become more similar to those of the native majority from the host country and less similar to those of the native majority from the country of origin. This study aims to examine whether living in a more gender-equal social context influences immigrants' attribution of stereotypes assigned to both men and women. The impact of the perceived gender role non-traditionalism in both private and public contexts is investigated as a mechanism driving the potential intergroup differences. The participants (202 Romanian immigrants in Spain, 187 Spaniards and 183 Romanians) completed an online questionnaire and were randomly assigned to rate either women or men on the stereotype dimensions of (im)morality, sociability, competence, and assertiveness. The data revealed that the Romanian immigrants compared to Romanian autochthonous perceived men as less immoral and women as less sociable because they perceived a higher percentage of men undertaking household tasks typically performed by women (communal non-traditionalism). However, Romanian immigrants compared to Romanian autochthonous also perceived a higher percentage of women undertaking household tasks typically performed by men (agentic non-traditionalism) that, in turn, lead to perceiving men as more immoral. The findings suggest that immigrant’s gender stereotypes seem to be influenced only by the perceived change in gender-roles in private settings and mainly for men target. The study adds to the existing literature on gender stereotypes and acculturation by shedding light on the possible mechanism that drives gender stereotype accommodation.