Stereotyping the Stereotyper a Mexican American Perspective

A total of 28 Spanish-speaking and 17 English-speaking Mexican American couples were interviewed to assess their perceptions of the stereotypes that they believed ascribed to them by Anglo-Americans. Additionally, the degree of the subjects' perceptions was examined as a function of subject gender, level of education, language spoken, and ethnic self-identification. In general, the subjects perceived the stereotypes ascribed to them by Anglo-Americans to be negative. The variable "education" was found to distinguish significantly (p < .01) subjects' perceptions of Anglo stereotypes toward Mexican Americans; with the less educated subjects perceiving themselves to be stereotyped more negatively by the larger Anglo society. Directions for future research are suggested.