Intersectional Stereotypes in Policing: An Analysis of Traffic Stop Outcomes

Intersectional Stereotypes in Policing: An Analysis of Traffic Stop Outcomes Public Deposited

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Creator

Christiani, Leah
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Political Science

Abstract

Studies of racial profiling typically focus on a White/Black or White/minority dichotomy. In this project, I extend that analysis to multiple racial, gender, and class groups. I use data from every traffic stop that occurred in six states over multiple years, amounting to more than 15 million traffic stops. Using this original and unique dataset, I am able to draw conclusions about the outcomes that individual drivers face as a result of their intersectional racial, gender, and class-based perceived identities. I attribute this phenomenon to widely held stereotypes about social groups, rather than to individually prejudiced police officers. Overall, I find that social groups that are stereotyped as more suspicious receive the harshest treatment from police, while those who are not considered suspicious receive lighter treatment, in the aggregate.

Date of publication