Stereotypes Part II Week Six

DEFINITION STEREOTYPE:  a fixed or conventional notion or conception, as of a person, group, idea, etc., held by a number of people, and allowing for no individuality, critical judgment, etc.

We will learn… types of stereotypes, reasons for stereotypes, and     the effect of stereotypes.

Types of Stereotypes     Stereotypes are over-simplified images of people or groups of people, based on race, gender, occupation, or age.  You are probably familiar with a number of stereotypes. To begin,  we will examine a few obvious stereotypes:

Examples "How many blondes does it take to screw in a light-bulb?“ How many jokes have you heard about blondes?  How many times has someone said to you, "Oh, I've got a blonde joke"?  What is the stereotype associated with blondes?

Examples "Act like a man". The stereotype here is inferred.   This statement dictates that there is a specific way for men to act.  This may include the stereotype that "real men don't cry".  In reality, men, like all humans, experience and respond to a variety of emotions and crying is one of them.  What is this stereotype based on?

Examples Assume that you are walking down a street and notice that a store front window has been broken.  You look at the crowd on the street and see an elderly couple, three teen skaters, and a mother with a young child. Who do you think would be automatically associated with the vandalism?  Most people would probably suggest the skaters even though they may not have any concrete proof.  What is the stereotype presented here?  What is the belief generated about all skaters?

Examples Examine the same scenario from another angle.  Suppose that when you looked at the crowd you noticed a group of white teens and a group of Native teens. If you automatically assume that the Native teens are responsible for the vandalism, what stereotype are you using?

Youth, Gender, Race, & Violence In the above examples, stereotypes related to youth, gender, race, and violence have been examined briefly.  These examples have shown how groups of people, such as teens, boys, girls, and Natives have all been lumped into a specific image and that image is a negative one.  Interestingly, stereotypes may also foster positive images.  Consider Oriental cultures such as Japanese and Chinese.  A typical stereotype of these cultures may include such representations as hard-working, family orientated, and  tolerant.  Although these are positive images that certainly apply to many Japanese and Chinese people, they could also apply to any other culture, and these stereotypes are no more accurate representations of a particular race or gender than are the negative portrayals.  Finally, it is important to examine why these stereotypes exist and the dangers of such representations.

Chart of Positive & Negative Stereotypes Think of at least five negative stereotypes you have heard. Think of at least five positive stereotypes you have heard. Do you think the media has more positive or negative stereotypes? Reading on Stereotypes