The Concept of Stereotypes - Research Paper Example

Stereotypes Introduction A stereotype is anything that follows a fixed or general pattern. It is a regular mental picturethat embodies an overgeneralized view, biased attitude or an uncritical conclusion. Stereotypes can either be positive or negative. They can also be grouped as accurate or inaccurate. Stereotypes represent how the human mind works. The mind uses stereotypes to synthesize and organise larger volumes of information. It is, therefore, clear that human beings cannot function without stereotypes. Since stereotypes can have both negative and positive effects, this paper shows that some stereotypes should not be shown in the media. It further analyses the moral permissibility of inaccurate stereotypes in the media. Finally, it shows the threshold beyond which portrayal of stereotypes is unjustified in the entertainment industry. Kinds of Stereotypes that should not be shown Deontological stereotypes judge actions depending on how they are aligned to laws or rules. It focusses on the obligation in actions rather than the goals achieved through such actions. Kantianism is a part of deontological stereotypes. It claims that the motive in an action is more important than the goal. Any act is good or bad depending on qualification. For example, the act of rejoicing at the misery of another person is not pleasure, since it is ethically wrong. This is the opposite of consequentialism because good intentions can result in bad outcomes. Also, bad intentions may result in good outcomes. Deontological stereotypes are the opposite of consequential stereotypes. Mass media plays a pivotal critical role in the modern world through entertainment. It consists of television, press, radio, books and the Internet. Though the Internet is developing at a higher rate than the other media, the rest have much influence on people. The media can manipulate peoples attitudes, perceptions and opinions. One of the stereotypes that should not be shown is the gender stereotype. Despite its use in advertising to persuade the public to purchase services and products, this stereotype can be harmful (Maarten J. V. Peters, 2006). In the modern society, gender roles are difficult to discern due to the gender stereotype. From a long time ago, different gender roles have been adopted. The patriarchy model has been the standard family for a long time. This is where men are the bread winners of the family. They provide financially, are assertive, independent and career focussed. Women, on the other hand, have occupied low positions of loving wives and mothers. The primary work for women has been to raise children and do housework. The modern family is based on partnership. Women now get better opportunities and rights than it was in the past. Since men occupy the dominant position, the media can manipulate the message and create images of fact consistent with the dominant group. Commercial adverts reflect the perceptions of the target group. Women are affected when adverts focus on their appearances such as weight. This could create negative effects since women might become obsessed with their weight (Glăveanu, 2007). The next stereotype that should not be shown is racial stereotypes. It is acknowledged in the United States that when the average white person sees an African-American, they may assume that the person is dumb, dishonest, lazy and ignorant. The previous statement is a stereotype. However, it is used by the media to portray African-Americans. Many studies find that such stereotypes are false. This is because African-Americans are portrayed unfairly and unrealistically on television and other mass media. The Entman-Rojecki Index of Race and Media found that 89% of media showed African-Americans using foul language compared to 17% of Whites. 56% of the time, Black Women are portrayed as violent compared to 11% of white women. Statistics, however, shows no proof that, in fact, black women are more violent or vulgar than white women (Nunnally, 2009). For example, the Entman-Rojecki Index of Race and Media shows that very serious crimes like rape, homicide, robbery are committed by a very small group of African-Americans in inner cities. Therefore, the African-American people get unrealistic portrayal in the media. There is no study that proves that white Americans are more hardworking that African-Americans. Another incorrect stereotype perpetrated by the media concerns Italian Americans. The media shows this group as almost always mob-associated. Several studies prove that Italians are misjudged based on the Italian American stereotype (Robert J. Rydell, 2010). Examples showing the extent of this stereotype are MTVs reality TV shows "Jersey Shore" and "Growing up Gotti." Others are HBO series "Sopranos," reality show "Mob Wives" and movies "Godfather" and "Goodfellas." Such a stereotype affects relationships between teachers and students and among students themselves. When seen as mob-associated, Italian Americans like any other human beings tend to stick to one another hence affirming the stereotype as true. They are referred to by nicknames. This restricts the amount of interaction between Americans and Italian Americans causing the latter to become concentrated in particular schools during the former concentrates in other schools. Another dangerous stereotyping by the media involves showing people being killed, mistreated or disabled. Also, when the media shows ideal women, it causes harm, pain and lack of pleasure for women in the real world. These false stereotypes portray women in ways that are impractical in the real world. In such cases where harm perpetuated by negative stereotypes the producer must accept moral responsibility for the results (Benderly, 2013). Another stereotyping is called ageism. This is where people are judged based on their age. This is particularly depressing for the aged members of society who strive to reach greater success levels despite their age. Getting employment becomes a problem when the prospective employer believes in ageism. This ends-up costing the employer valuable talent and experience. He/she instead chooses inexperience and lesser wisdom offered by youthful job seekers (Tom Robinson, 2008). Stereotyping has existed for as long as mass media has existed. The major reasons why this is so are: time (or space in case of newspapers) is limited. Information is restricted by money and number of hours per day. Most broadcasters run their businesses 24 hours per day. There is much data information that needs to be broadcasted. Broadcasters need to let out as much information as possible quickly. Also, the fastest way to get information to the public is to get it across in a way that the public already expects. Therefore, mass media companies need to communicate efficiently and maintain their fast schedule. Therefore, all mass media companies employ stereotypes (Valenti, 2000). Objections to the Deontological View to Stereotyping A type of a consequentialism stereotype is utilitarian. Consequential theory states that the goal of a person matters more than the methods employed to achieve the goals. It justifies the goal despite the ethics of the actions involved. Utilitarianism focuses on utility as the ultimate goal. This means that the focus is on the reduction of pain and increase in pleasure. However, since pleasure is relative, people have difference ranks attached to pleasure. For some people, pleasure arises from satisfying preferences. In such a case, this is called preference utilitarianism. Gender stereotypes are allowed under consequentialism because the goal is ethical. Families will be united for longer. In consequentialism, it does not matter whether or not women are discriminated against or belittled. What matters is that society, whose foundation is the family, stays together. Those who support racial stereotypes do so because of the ultimate result. Their race will feel superior to other races. This will intimidate the others and make them feel inferior and unworthy. Under consequentialism, the economy and products exported from countries with intense racial stereotypes will be perceived to be of better quality than those from other countries. This will boost the welfare of the country whose people are perpetrating the stereotype. Moreover, they may get cheap labour to produce their goods from the so-called “inferior races”. This will result in a boom in the country’s industry (Nunnally, 2009). Ageism is a stereotype based on a person’s ability due to their age. Under consequentialism, this stereotype is justified because a company will have only vibrant youths in employment. The disadvantages of employing older people will be avoided. These disadvantages include conservatism and fear to take risks. The fact that the people discriminated against end up feeling worthless does not matter in consequentialism. Rather, goals such as profit, innovation and research are intensified (Tom Robinson, 2008). Stereotypes that youth crime rates are increasing are wrong. They are actually decreasing. However, under consequentialism, the fact that such a stereotype will help control the youth is reason enough to use it. This is because it will reduce the youth crime rates even further. Society will be safe from youth violence. When is it justified for Producers to use Inaccurate Stereotypes? The justification of an inaccurate stereotype happens because of the goal of using the stereotype. If the goal is novel, then the stereotype is justified. Justification of an inaccurate stereotype, therefore, is under the consequential theory. In this, the goals matter more than the actions done to achieve them. In this section instances where the use of inaccurate stereotypes by producers is justified are discussed. Inaccurate stereotypes are provided when the producer can justify why he did that. Justification is where a morally wrong act is made to look morally permissible. The justification may be weak, strong or non-existent. For example, when the police arrest an African-American rape suspect, it appears as if only members of this community are capable of committing such crimes. African-Americans end up being avoided by white Americans though such crimes are also equally prevalent among the whites. Stereotypes are moral when they are constantly held by the producer and the public. The producer and the public must be aware that they are recounting a group norm rather than an individual. For example, there is a stereotype that youth of today is unruly and irresponsible in todays society. In fact, crime rates among youths have been falling. However, such stereotypes are useful in communicating the acts of some youth offenders. If the producer and public see the stereotype for what it is, it is morally acceptable. Moreover, this stereotype helps to reduce the crime rate in the country because families talk to their children and control them in ways that reduce misbehaviour in society. When a stereotype is descriptive rather than evaluative, it is morally acceptable. If the stereotype describes what people in a group will probably be as it is justified. It should not evaluate people as either good or bad. The aborigines are people whose forefathers were arboreal to the Australian continent prior to British colonisation began in 1788. Through mass media, aboriginals are shown as primitive, barbaric and manipulative in nature. Moreover, they are sometimes referred to as passive and of childlike obedience. In addition, this could promote tourism both locally and internationally in the country. In such a case, stereotyping is justified (Grewal, 2010). Stereotypes are morally allowed when the producer accurately describes the norms for the group a person belongs to. Gender stereotypes are most common on mass media. Women especially are depicted as servants working in the home. The point is that the stereotype has changed. Nowadays, women are socially free as men although usually they are weaker than men. Following that family groups form the fundamental building block of the nation, there needs to be a chain of command. Therefore, the patriarchy model of the family which is a stereotype helps maintain the stability of the home and thus the stability of the country. When a stereotype is the first best guess about a group prior to getting full information about a person or people, it is permissible. For example, there is a stereotype that Caucasians are more likely to be rich and of the upper class than other races. This stereotype negatively affects people of other races by lowering their self-esteem. It, however, raises the self-confidence and faith of Caucasians and because of this, their economy grows at a faster rate and generates more money than other economies. In the media, the producer can use this stereotype as the movie proceeds; the public should know the actors and actresses individually away, from the stereotype’s influence. When stereotypes are modified based on further observation and experience with the people and situations involved, they are morally permissible. For instance, stereotype use that is permissible concerns the gay and lesbian community. This community is depicted from colours to clothes with which they are labelled by other people. Many gays and lesbians are confused by what they see on TV concerning themselves, thus in order to look like a part of the group, and they embrace who they are or fail to do so. In the long run, this helps society identify members of such communities who are gay or lesbians and help them. Therefore, some types of stereotypes are useful and beneficial to society. Additional information that could modify the above stereotype and, therefore, make it moral is that gay people are stylish and fashion conscious than other people. When the use of Stereotypes is not justified The use of inaccurate stereotypes is not justified under deontology. In deontology, the motive behind an action determines whether it is right or wrong regardless of the end result. This is a sharp contrast to consequentialism which regards the goal more than it does the actions aimed at the attainment of the goal. In this section, cases where the use of inaccurate stereotypes is unjustified are discussed. This is with regard to producers in the entertainment industry. Stereotypes are usually narrow-minded ways of jumping into conclusions. Many people view stereotypes as the lazy mans way of deciding something about someone. Stereotypes cost people a lot when they reach dangerous levels. Some of the ways stereotypes can reach levels where they are unjustified are discussed below (Valenti, 2000). An employer may hold the stereotype that elderly people are feeble, absentminded and unable to maintain the pace at the workplace. Thus when hiring people, when an employer comes across an application from a retired person, he/she will most likely dismiss it. This stereotyping is called ageism and influences the thoughts of people about others based on their age. It costs the employer valuable experience and professionalism that the aged acquired over their career years, before retirement (Posthuma, 2007). Some people define stereotyping as the dehumanizing process necessary to feed the oppressors. They are appeased by the justification that alleviates their feeling of guilt caused by their inhumane acts. When a white person oppresses a person from another race, for example, he/she might justify his actions of oppression. This level of stereotyping is unjustified. For example, when a white American refuses to pay African-Americans on the stereotypic grounds that they are lazy, it causes hatred between the two races and threatens the peace in the country. Another example that shows an unhealthy level of belief in stereotypes is when a white couple wants to buy furniture. As they walk, they come across a furniture store and greeted by an Asian salesman. He offers the couple high quality furniture at a low price. However, the couple decides to buy the same furniture more expensively from another store with white American staff. This is an unhealthy stereotype known as racial stereotyping. A taxi driver spots two people standing on the curb, both are trying to get a taxi. One of the prospective customers is a well-dressed, professionally looking woman. The other one is a shabbily dressed, scruffy man. If the taxi driver chooses to pick the professional looking lady, he wrongly believes that dresses reflect a persons value. On the contrary, a persons value is represented by who they are inside. The taxi driver would probably be making a mistake by picking the lady instead of the man. There are many examples of very rich people who dress shabbily and even drive themselves. At times despite their wealth, they decide to take a cab. The taxi driver in this example may lose a tip by relying on stereotypes. When a two people fall in love, they promise to stick by each other for better and for worse. However, when one of the lovers gets a tattoo, he is dumped by the other lover. The reason is that the lover who gets a tattoo is seen as a vagabond. This is also a stereotype where people are judged based on anothers perception of the world and other communities. It is false that every person who gets a tattoo is a tramp. Conclusion Stereotypes have and always will be part of humanity. It helps human beings digest and organise large volumes of information. It makes learning and associating new things to what they already know easy. However, there are levels where stereotyping becomes dangerous. This happens when it threatens to split society and families. The media should be particularly careful when using stereotypes to shape the views and perceptions of their public. Stereotypes can be both negative or positive or accurate or inaccurate. The use of stereotypes should be based on the most benefit to society or the public in question. References Benderly, B. L. (2013). Toying With Stereotypes. Science. Glăveanu, V. (2007). Stereotypes Revised-Theoretical Models, Taxonomy and the Role of Stereotypes. Europe’s Journal of Psychology. Grewal, D. (2010). Science. Reducing the Impact of Negative Stereotypes on the Careers of Women and Minority Scientists. Maarten J. V. Peters, M. J. (2006). When stereotypes backfire-: Trying to suppress stereotypes produces false recollections of a crime. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 327-336. Nunnally, S. C. (2009). Racial Homogenization and Stereotypes-: Black American College Students Stereotypes about Racial Groups. Journal of Black Studies, 252-265. R. A. Posthuma, M. A. (2007). Age Stereotypes In The Workplace-: Common Stereotypes, Moderators, And Future Research Directions. Journal of Management, 158-188. Robert J. Rydell, M. T. (2010). The effect of negative performance stereotypes on learning. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 883-896. Tom Robinson, B. G. (2008). Aging and Society. Cambridge Journals, 233-251. Valenti, M. (2000). More Than a Movie: Ethics in Entertainment. Boulder, CO: The Perseus Books Group. Read More