Voices and Experiences of Moroccan-Heritage Women and Men in Spain: Understanding Affective Reactions to Injustice Through Mixed-Methods

Objective: Research has not often delved into the experiences of the Moroccan-heritage community in Western societies. We followed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative with quantitative methods, applying an intersectionality perspective to analyze the feelings and perceptions of Moroccan-heritage people about their situation in Spain, interaction with Spaniards, perceived discrimination, and metaperceptions to understand their affective reactions to injustice (Studies 1 and 2), and willingness to mobilize (Study 2). Method: In Study 1, we conducted four discussion groups with Moroccan-heritage women (n = 12) and men (n = 13) separately. In Study 2, we analyzed with a quantitative survey (n = 147) participants' identity fusion with Morocco and Spain, perceived metaprejudice and discrimination, metadehumanization, the evaluation of the ingroup situation, affective reactions to their situation, and support of collective actions for their rights. Results: The analysis of Study 1 revealed experiences of discrimination and spontaneous positive but also negative metaperceptions, especially among women, including an alarming metadehumanization. Quantitative analyses in Study 2 confirmed gender differences, with women reporting worse feelings and perceptions, and confirmed that metadehumanization was crucial to predict indignation and anger of Moroccan-heritage people, while perceived discrimination was significant for mobilization. Conclusions: Although gender differences need additional clarification, these findings advance our theoretical knowledge about the sources of shared grievances among disadvantaged group members and the role of metadehumanization in their affective reactions to injustice. Interventions are urgent to address metadehumanization and canalize its affective consequences to promote social change.