Category cues remain perceptually salient for race, age, and gender

Evidence

Naturally, most individuals will be more or less aware of the actual overlap between the multiple categories they belong to. Actual category overlap will thus be, to some extent, predictive of social identity complexity, yet primarily so for the overlap complexity component of social identity complexity. Those individuals who identify with categories that are already characterized by a relatively high degree of actual overlap are, thus, likely to have relatively lower overlap complexity scores than will individuals whose important categories show considerably less actual overlap. For example, when seeking to assess overlap complexity based on self-categorized nationality and religion, Bangladeshi Muslims are likely to yield lower overlap complexity scores at an absolute level than German Muslims, based on the simple fact that the vast majority of people of Bangladeshi background are Muslim, whereas a tiny minority of German people is Muslim. Thus, one needs to keep in mind potential differences in the nature of the categories used to assess social identity complexity, and the situational context in which they are placed. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 540 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Children’s perception is shaped by signifying types, not raw visual data — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 687; Conventions set the perceptual frames by which we experience time, color, and music — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 134; Cultural conventions shape even basic perception of time and color — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 134 (+7 more)

Broader Connections

• Racial categorization of the same person varies by time, place, and context #complicates (0.82)
• Actual demographic overlap of one’s identity categories drives perceived overlap #complicates (0.77) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 540