Although there is abundant research on the nature of teasing behavior, researchers have yet to investigate the perceptions and potential consequences of teases targeting one's group membership. Anecdotal evidence suggests that people use one's gender and ethnicity as fodder for playful teases and that this type of intergroup teasing is not uncommon among adults. However, such "friendly sexist" and "friendly racist" teases may nonetheless be perceived as demeaning or belittling and result in negative affective and/or cognitive consequences for the target. A pilot study was conducted to investigate the phenomenon of friendly intergroup teases by gathering descriptive data to assess people's experiences and perceptions of teases that focus on their group membership. Results from the pilot study found that many people reported negative thoughts and feelings when describing past ethnic- and gender-related teases, and that the majority of such intergroup teases were from close others. Study 1 employed a diary study to assess the frequency of gender-related intergroup teases in everyday life as well as the relationship between the teaser and the recipient of the tease. Results from this study added to present knowledge by indicating that intergroup gender teasing is relatively common among males and females in everyday life, and were reported mainly from close others replicating the findings from the pilot study. Study 2 experimentally investigated the moderating effects of perceived closeness on reactions to, and consequences of, friendly sexist teases. The findings from Study 2 indicated cognitive consequences in response to intergroup gender teases, such that participants who were teased by an acquaintance tended to disidentify with their gender group. Taken together, these studies suggest that intergroup teasing can result in affective and cognitive consequences for the target.
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