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SAGE Publications, Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 2(17), p. 161-177, 2013

DOI: 10.1177/1368430213497063

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Overplaying the diversity card: When a superordinate group overrepresents the prevalence of a minority group

Journal article published in 2013 by Jennifer R. Spoor, Jolanda Jetten, Matthew J. Hornsey ORCID
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

Despite the fact that groups and organizations often portray themselves as more diverse than they really are, the consequences of such practices for the minority who is overrepresented are not well understood. Focusing on Asian university students in Australia, we conducted three experiments to examine minority group members’ perceptions when the superordinate group (the university) overrepresents the minority group in advertising. Minority group members tended to be less favorable toward overrepresentation compared to other types of representation (Studies 1 and 2), an effect that was most pronounced for those who strongly identified with their minority group (Study 3). The negative effect of minority overrepresentation was not detected among majority group members. If anything, in Study 1, majority group members were more positive toward overrepresentation and were more willing to help the superordinate group in an overrepresentation than a no minority representation condition. Future research directions and practical implications are discussed.