Lesson Write-Up - 30th Sept

Lesson Write Up – 30^th September 2014

 

What is a stereotype?

·         A label or overall group that we give or git people into based on their looks or personality.

Stereotypes within college:

·         Art kids

·         Btec sport

Why do we stereotype?

·         Because maybe we find it easier to deal with people on the basis of what we think they are like compared to people we think are similar to them

The media reinforces stereotypes

Stereotypes aren’t simple.

·         Stereotypes are assumptions we make based on groups of people

o   How do we come to such conclusions?

o   What so we base our assumptions on?

o   Are we always correct with our assumptions?

Tessa Perkins – Stereotyping

·         Stereotyping is not a simple process and contains a number of assumptions that can be challenged.

·         Perkins identifies 5 such assumptions

o   Stereotypes are not always negative (e.g, the French are good cooks)

o   They are not always about the minority groups or less powerful (e.g upper class twits)

o   They can be held about ones own group

o   They are not rigid or unchanging

o   They are not always false

Not always negative:

·         People assume that stereotypes are negative for example, young troublesome youths, ‘hoodie culture’, however youth can also be seen as positive

Not always about minority groups or less powerful:

·         People assume that stereotypes are aimed at and targeted toward the less powerful but this is not always the case, we base our understanding on things we don’t know about.

Can be held about ones own group:

·         Within our group we stereotype people

Not rigid or unchanging:

·         Once a stereotype has been created it is very hard to change, however Perkins states that over a period of time they can change or develop.

Not always false:

·         Have to have some truth in them otherwise where does it come from?

·         Read stories in the media that help us understand stereotypes.

Implications of Stereotypes:

·         Stereotypes are usually wrong

·         Negative concepts

·         Groups with whom we have little or no contact with

·         About minority or repressed groups, most of the time creating a negative representation of the lower class, probably giving the upper class more power.

·         People ‘hold’ stereotypes and believe them to be true, or do not. Can lead to wrong assumptions

·         If people hold a stereotype, his/her behaviour can change towards a member of a group. Can lead to unfair treatment of members of society.

Examples of Assumptions:

Not about minority: MP’s cheat on expenses (expenses scandal)

Held about ones own group: inmates in prison

Not rigid or unchanging: representation of gay people

Not always negative: nerds are smart