Stereotype Threat

Most children in our society are well aware of gender and racial stereotypes by the time they enter formal schooling. For example, most girls by the time they are 5 years old know of stereotypes claiming that girls are inferior to boys in mathematics and its related disciplines. Young children [Page 2151]of both sexes also know that stereotypes portray Whites as being inferior to Asians in math and science. And, of course, most African American children are aware of negative stereotypes targeting their academic ability. At the other end of the developmental spectrum, children also realize that the elderly are stereotyped as not seeing, hearing, or remembering as well as younger people.

So how would it impact you to be in a situation where you know ...