Predictors of prejudice against different types of head-covering practices

Abstract

The present study explored female Turkish university students’ perceptions and attitudes towards groups with different types of head-covers. A total of 174 students without headcover were presented with 6 groups of photos based on interviews prior to data collection. The groups consisted of veiled women in black garments, women wearing various types of headcovers described as contemporary, urban fashioned, conservative, and traditional style as well as women without headcovers. For each group, participants completed measures assessing variables of the Integrated Threat Theory (Stephan & Stephan, 1999). It was shown that perceived realistic threat, perceived symbolic threat, intergroup anxiety, negative stereotyping, and prejudice differed significantly across groups. In particular, perceived symbolic threat, intergroup anxiety, negative stereotyping, and prejudice were the highest towards veiled women in black garments followed by women wearing contemporary, urban fashioned and conservative, and traditional headcovers, and the lowest towards women without headcovers. Behavioral tendencies also showed differences across groups. Aggressive and avoidant behavioral tendencies were the highest and approach behavioral tendencies were the lowest towards veiled women in black garments. There was a negative relationship between intergroup contact, both direct and extended, and prejudice in cases of groups with contemporary, urban-fashioned and conservative styles.