The words of (non-) humanity: sexist slurs elicit self-dehumanization in women
Carmen Cervone, Alice Lucarini, Bruno Gabriel Salvador Casara, Silvia Filippi (University of Padova)
One of the main functions of derogatory language (e.g. hate speech) is the dehumanization of targeted groups and individuals. Indeed, derogatory labels are successful in increasing dehumanization in bystanders; research however has yet to investigate whether the same applies to victims themselves. In the present study (N = 207) we predicted that being targeted with sexist slurs would lead women to dehumanize themselves. After completing a perspective-taking task, participants were exposed to the manipulation (control vs neutral vs objectifying vs animalizing insult) and rated self-attributed emotions, perceptions of self as an instrument, and self-attributed warmth and competence. Results showed that sexist slurs led participants to self-attribute more primary emotions, and to consider themselves as less human- and more object-like. This was particularly true for animalizing slurs. In conclusion, our results show that derogatory language is different from generic insults, in that it can lead to self-dehumanization. This is relevant especially in light of the current discourse about hate speech policing (e.g. DDL Zan).
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