Essentialist stereotypes justify unequal resource distribution rather than reflecting real differences

Evidence

In some cases, the stereotyped group is ascribed an inner essence that conveys something about group members’ basic nature. The group’s essence is seen as relatively immutable and as providing an explanation for why groups differ in terms of resources and opportunities. This observation moves us closer to more fully appreciating Allport’s remark that, “the rationalizing and justifying function of a stereotype exceeds its function as a reflector of group attributes” (1954/1979, p. 196). This is because, as Yzerbyt et al. (1997) note, “rationalization is best served by an essentialistic approach to social categories” (p. 39). More specifically, essentialism has a strong capacity to contribute to “system-justification” processes, which in turn mold the specific contents of stereotypes ( Jost & Banaji, 1994). — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1390

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to system justification theory (Jost) and to the broader theme of hierarchy-legitimizing narratives elsewhere in the reader’s material on sacrifice and stratified societies. — connects to: Economic theories encode rival justifications for who should receive resources — Mark Blyth, Austerity: The History of a Dangerous…, 121
• DEEPTHINKING: The claim that stereotypes’ primary function is rationalizing inequality rather than reflecting group attributes is a dense, paradigm-shifting insight with wide reach.