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Prejudice & Sexism

Perceptions of people depend on what it is they are wearing and job status, sociability, income, health and fitness can be perceived from clothing.  People use categories when describing others and learn what types of clothing are associated with categories or labels.  Different types of clothing send different messages. For example, men perceived women in revealing clothing as being more flirtatious, seductive, and promiscuous and less capable.  African American men in sweatpants are viewed more negatively than when dressed formally. A model dressed in provocative clothing is viewed as more attractive and sexually appealing, but less intelligent and competent.  Can we reduce prejudice by changing what people wear? For recent work on this topic see this piece on T-shirt logos or this one working women.

Embryonic Stem Cells
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