The Misfits Written by James Howe LABELS & STEREOTYPES

WHAT ARE LABELS?? Derogatory description based on an untrue/true aspect of someone’s personality or outward appearance. Normally exaggerated

THE LUNCH ROOM

JOURNAL & DISCUSS Q1: Do you feel like people label others like this at your school or even outside of school? Q2: Has someone ever labeled you in this way? Q3: What are some commonly used labels used at John H. Walker Middle School?

WHAT IS A STEREOTYPE? Oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. A judgment or quality assigned to someone based upon outward appearances, qualities, or categories. Qualities assigned to WHOLE groups of people based upon labels, race, nationality, gender, age, social status, religion, occupation, hobbies, weight, etc.

STEREOTYPES ARE GENERALIZATIONS ALL people that look, talk, or act like THIS must be THAT. May be true of SOME members of that group, but not ALL people in that group. Examples: ALL people with glasses are smart. ALL Italians are loud. ALL athletes are unintelligent.

EXPRESSION OF STEREOTYPE A single word or phrase An image Combination of words and images

Characteristics of Stereotype Views can be positive or negative Develops superiority or inferiority in the person or group Ignores the uniqueness of individuals by painting all members of a group in with the same brush.

WHERE DO STEREOTYPES COME FROM? Parents and family The media Friends Education (school, university) Travel Laziness Fear Envy A sense of superiority Lack of experience of people, etc.

WHY CAN STEREOTYPES AND LABELS BE DANGEROUS? EXPLAIN WHY THE FOLLOWING ARE DANGEROUS: Quick judgments NOT based on that specific person Often inaccurate Shows narrow-mindedness Hurtful Confines people (isolates them) Distorts people’s self-image

STEREOTYPE EXAMPLES WHILE WATCHING THE VIDEO: WRITE DOWN: STEREOTYPES YOU HAVE HEARD BEFORE STEREOTPYES YOU HAVE NOT HEARD WHY THESE STEREOTYPES ARE GIVEN

Class Discussions EXPECTATIONS: RULES: EXPRESS YOUR OPINION, YET BE OPEN TO NEW IDEAS. YOU, AS THE STUDENTS, WILL LEAD DISCUSSIONS, NOT MRS. MINERVINI RULES: LISTEN TO YOUR CLASSMATES WHEN THEY ARE SPEAKING. BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS’ OPINIONS NO DERAGATORY OR INSULTING LANGUAGE AIMED AT ANYONE IN OR OUTSIDE OF THE CLASS.

HOMEWORK-WRITE DOWN! READ THE CELEBRITY STORIES. ON THE SPACE GIVEN, ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT ANY OF THESE PEOPLE WERE BULLIED, STEREOTYPED, OR LABELED? WHY OR WHY NOT? HAVE YOU EVER USED ONE OF THESE STEREOTPYES TO JUDGE ANOTHER PERSON? HAVE ANY OF THESE STEREOTPYES BEEN USED TO JUDGE YOU, A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND?

TOMORROW……. STUDENTS MUST TAKE JOURNALS OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD. STUDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THEIR ANSWERS WITHIN A SMALL GROUP. STUDENTS WILL LEARN THE FORMAT OF THE UNIT WE WILL BE WORKING ON IN CLASS.