When we’re at risk of confirming a stereotype that we don’t like, and it’s about something we care about, our minds race. They’re probably doing all sorts of things: arguing against the stereotype; denying its applicability to us; disparaging anyone who could ever think that of us; feeling sorry for ourselves; trying to buck ourselves up to disprove the stereotype. We are defending ourselves and coping with the threat of being stereotyped. We’re probably aware of some of this defending and coping. But much of the time we may miss it, unless we try very hard to listen.
