Sentence:  A closer examination of the components of <WSD>essentialism</WSD> is required for a better understanding of the relation between <WSD>essentialism</WSD> and prejudice toward the two social categories of interest in this dissertation, African Americans and gay men. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  The view that all members of certain groups of people (such as those with the same race, gender, age, or sexual orientation) have common, essential traits inherent to the defining feature of the group;  behavior or statement(s) that reflect such a view.