My friend and I are doing a documentary about stereotypes and we wanted to tell you what we thought. while also getting your opinion on the subject.
Opinion A
I think that steryotypes are generalizations about a race or a social group. Yes at times they are funny and even partialy true. Yeah its wrong to put people in a box, but what can we do? Labling people is stupid and its often hurtful but how can we tell people not to stereotypes, when we probably do it even more than they do? I think that they're ok as along as it's just a joke, but if it becomes more than that then it might become personal.
Opinion B
I agee with my friend about that they are race and social groups. I truly do not understand why people get so upset about them. When they discredit your name and it hurts your life then yeah they are bad. But when your in high school all we do is make sterotypes to help each other fit in a group then its just life.. Teenagers just want to feel like they are a part of something so we PUT our friends, enemys, or strangers in "boxes". All we need to do is get along and stop worrying about what others might think and just make sure you take care of yourself.
Closing coments.
A
You make a statment about others because maybe your insacure. Just know that all Black People don't like chicken, Mexicans aren't all broke imigrants and maybe one day you will find a not so inteligant Asian. and even then not all emo cut themselfs, not every gangster carrys a gun and white people probaly have some hidden rhythm in them! Stop ASUMMING!
B
I wont lie, I sterotype alot. I cross the street when I see some one who looks like they will jump me. I dont see black or white I see danger and I run. What we need to do is look behide the mask everyone wears and look at their true self. Even if we know it is something that might scare you. After thinking alot about this project I will just walk down the road til I get where I need to go no matter what or who I see.
Post and tell us if we are right or wrong. Who you agree with or what you think. Thanks for reading and helping us get an A+ =)
Stereotypes are extremely useful. Like all generalizations, they simplify the world so that our mind can comprehend it. Without this ability to generalize and categorize information we would be overwhelmed by trying to think of everybody and everything as a unique and individual.
Stereotypes can probably be categorized in a number of different ways. (Ironically,this process of categorizing is like sterotyping the sterotypes). I find it useful to think about them by grouping them on a four cell grid with: Column A = Positive, Column B = Negative, Row 1 = True, and Row 2 = False
The top left cell would be for stereotypes that are Positive and True. An example would be Asian kids do well in math and sciences
The top right cell would be for sterotypes that are Negative and True: Teenage Hispanic Girls lead the nation in out of wedlock births
The bottom left cell would be for stereotypes that are Positive and False. White kids are smart
The bottom right cell would be for sterotypes that are Negative and False. And example would be black kids are criminals.
When you think about sterotypes in this manner, it becomes clear that all of them in Row 1 Are useful whether they are positive or negative because they are true. People may not like the truth but that is no excuse for avoiding it.
The second row is more problematic. The positive but false stereotype is not at all useful because it is false. But it does little harm either because it doesn't hurt anybody. It is really only sterotypes that fall in the bottom right corner that are a real problem. It is clearly both unhelpful and hurtful to repeat a false and negative sterotype.
Unfortunately, sterotypes are misunderstood, When people talk about sterotypes they are usually referring to those that fall in the bottom right corner That is not surprising because that is what they have been taught. There has been a systematic effort in our schools over the past couple of decades to condemn sterotypes and they particluar focus on those that are negative and false. This is incredibly sloppy and unuseful thinking. A better focus would be on teaching people to recognize and correct false sterotypes.
There has been quite a bit of research done on stereotypes and contrary to what kids are taught in school, most stereotypes fall in the true categories.
It is also important to understand the limitations of sterotypical thinking. It is useful when making judgements and decisions about groups because true sterotypes speak to average qualities. Stereotypical thinking is useless when making judgements about individuals because no individual is likely to be exactly average.
thanx for the comment it was really interesting, but it didn't tell us who you thought was right and by the way this is oppinion A if you were wondering.
I suppose I am closer to "B" but I don't agree with either of them.
Like B, I do stereotype a lot. It is a useful way to understand the world. I also think that people should quit being so sensitive and should grow a thicker skin and maybe even a pair of balls. But I don't necessarily find it necessary to share my observatiions through my stereotype goggles with either the group I am observing and judging or my companions. I don't use sterotypes to hurt people.
The big difference between myself and either A or B is that I distinguish between true (accurate more than 50% of the time) and false stereotypes. True stereotypes are useful. False sterotypes are useless because they lead me to false conclusions. I continually, but rather subconciously evaluate my stereotypes held in my mind against facts as they come to my attention (and I am a fairly voracious consumer of news, articles and studies). I strive for the clearest pair of stereotypevision goggles possible.
Your negative and true example isn't really a stereotype, more of a fact thats is a basis for one since you can back it up, presumably with a study.
No stereotype is ever completely true, they are all generalizations. I think what is important is to make sure we recognize when we are using a stereotype so we can tell what the truth is.
Like what you've read? Well, then here's more:
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711
Most stereotypes I can think of are grounded very well in reality. We all fit into more than one stereotype and many people "fit the stereotype" of the group(s) into which they are classified but many do not. As an individualist, I must admit am guilty of judging others or making assumptions about them based on stereotypes. Never does race or skin color matter to me but just about everything else does. Despite the fact that I am a 20 year old male, I tend to make automatic judgments or assumptions about young males with regards to intelligence, behavior, etc. Also, I view Muslims in a rather negative light because of ... well do I have to explain? I have a Muslim Uncle from Egypt and I like him very much (although I have issues with his somewhat negative views of America) and his mother also visits from Egypt for long periods of time and she is one of the nicest, most generous, and loving that person I know. I don't know why I wrote what I did, but that is my relationship with stereotypes. Pretty weird I guess.