When Differences Become Essential:Minority Essentialism in Response to Majority Treatment

There is considerable interest in how essentialist beliefs support prejudice and discrimination against minorities. Less attention has been given to essentialism within minority groups. The authors argue that minorities might use essentialism to counter the denial of their identity by the majority (e.g., marginalization) but that essentialism might be less appealing when minority identity is recognized but devalued (e.g., discrimination). In Study 1, gay, lesbian, and bisexual participants contemplated treatment that either devalued or denied their identity. Minority identification was related to stronger endorsement of beliefs about the immutability of sexuality in the context of identity denial but not in the context of identity devaluation. Study 2 replicated this pattern and showed that endorsement of immutability beliefs was mediated through the perceived possibility for social change and was in turn related to feelings of self-efficacy. The results are discussed in relation to current perspectives on essentialism.