Stereotypes and prejudices of university students in lima regarding peruvian and foreign migrants

Abstract

The present research is qualitative in nature and its objective was to identify the stereotypes and prejudices of  university students in Lima with respect to Peruvian and foreign migrants, as well as the comparison between the two groups. For this purpose, 12 university students from Lima, of both sexes, between 19 and 23 years of age, from different universities in the capital city, were interviewed. The information collected was analyzed using Atlas.ti
v.7.5.4 software for qualitative data analysis. The results showed that university students have two types of responses to migrants: affectively charged and cognitively charged. On the other hand, although stereotypes and prejudices differ according to the type of migrant referred to, it was not possible to demonstrate an aversive character towards foreign migrants. In conclusion, university students in Lima do not show an absolute repulsion for any of the types of migrants; however, they do show positive and negative self-stereotypes and heterostereotypes for both groups. In addition, the prejudices they express do not respond, for the most part, to inherent characteristics of Peruvian and foreign migrants, but rather to external factors such as the place where they live or the clothing they wear.