According to Crenshaw’s concept of intersectionality, as members
of two minority groups, women of color may be susceptible to unique
forms of discrimination and stereotyping (1989). A great deal of
research based on the parasocial contact hypothesis suggests that
both prejudicial and stereotypical views of minority outgroup
members can be reduced through positive, counter-stereotypical media
representations (Ramasubramanian, 2015; Schiappa, Gregg, & Hewes,
2005). Less research, however, has demonstrated how these
representations affect the minority group members themselves. In
this study, participants will consist solely of non-White minority
women. One group will be shown a scene from the 2018 Marvel film
Black Panther, in which an African-American female scientist shows
the male protagonist how to operate the technologically advanced
super suit that she has designed and constructed. Another group will
be shown a similar scene from the 2010 Marvel film Iron Man 2 in
which a White male scientist demonstrates the use of the
technologically advanced super suit that he has designed and
constructed. They will then respond to questions assessing their
self-esteem, self-efficacy, and well-being. It is hypothesized that
African-American women will report higher levels of self esteem,
self efficacy, and well being after watching Black Panther than after watching Iron Man 2
Keywords: Intersectionality, parasocial contact, media, self-esteem,
self-efficacy, gender, race, superheroes
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