COGNITIVE DISTRACTION AND AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN'S ENDORSEMENT OF GENDER ROLE STEREOTYPES

The present study investigated the effect of cognitive distraction on the endorsement of gender role stereotypes in one sample of African American female participants. Participants' awareness and endorsement of gender role stereotypes for male and females was assessed. Following random assignment to distraction or no distraction conditions, they each completed a series of questionnaires assessing beliefs about gender role stereotypes. Participants who were distracted showed differences in endorsement of male gender role stereotypes from those who weren't distracted but not for female gender role stereotypes. Results underscore the effect of cognitive distraction on gender stereotyping. Findings contribute to understanding of social cognitive processing and extend the small body of research in this area that focuses on African Americans.