The personal-group discrimination discrepancy in persons living with psoriasis

Prior research has shown that women, ethnic minorities, gay men, and lesbia ns perceive more discrimination directed at their group than at themselves. This study examined whether or not this personal-group discrimination disc repancy extends to members of a physically stigmatized group. Men (N = 58) and women (N = 43) living with psoriasis were asked to imagine the extent t o which the average person with psoriasis is discriminated against and the degree to which they are personally discriminated against because of psoria sis in specific domains and in general. Women with psoriasis showed a small er personal-group discrimination discrepancy than did men with psoriasis be cause of higher ratings for personal discrimination. These results point to the "double jeopardy" of life as a woman and as a person living with psori asis. The fact that women's ratings for group discrimination showed less va riability than their ratings for personal discrimination also suggests that women may be using a shared stereotype about the level of discrimination e ncountered by their group.