Tell Me the Truth: Asian Americans Opinions of Each Other

Research on Asian American racial dynamics has largely focused on relations between Asian Americans and other racial/ethnic groups, with far less attention to stereotyping and hierarchy among Asian ethnic subgroups. The current study investigates intra-group stereotyping among East, South, and Southeast Asian Americans, asking how these communities describe one another and what stereotype content emerges. Participants (N = 300) will complete an open-ended stereotype generation task in which they list up to ten attributes commonly associated with a designated target group (East, South, or Southeast Asians). Responses will be analyzed using a hybrid inductive-deductive qualitative approach that combines inductive coding with established stereotype content domains (e.g., competence), to identify recurring themes and group-specific patterns. We anticipate that East Asian participants will generate relatively more negative attributes for South and Southeast Asian targets, including content related to colorism. In contrast, South and Southeast Asian participants are anticipated to describe East Asian targets using themes consistent with model minority stereotypes (e.g., high intelligence). By documenting intra-group stereotype patterns, this study aims to illuminate perceived hierarchies within the Asian American community and identifies themes relevant to cross-ethnic solidarity.