Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2016 Social Stereotyping and Self-Esteem of Miss America Pageant Contestants Ebony Bowers Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Women's Studies Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Ebony Bowers has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Barbara Benoliel, Committee Chairperson, Human Services Faculty Dr. Tina Jaeckle, Committee Member, Human Services Faculty Dr. Lilian Chenoweth, University Reviewer, Human Services Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2016 Abstract Social Stereotyping and Self-Esteem of Miss America Pageant Contestants by Ebony F. M. Bowers MS, Springfield College, 2009 BS, Springfield College, 2004 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Human Services Walden University October 2016 Abstract Miss America Pageant contestants (MAPCs) have been negatively stereotyped socially for their perceived lack of intelligence and nonconformance to feminist gender stereotypes of women. Stereotypes could affect an individual’s social psyche and establish stigma, which could prevent a group from achieving their full potential.