Stereotypes - How to Deal with Them - Research Paper Example

Stereotypes: How to deal with them? Stereotypes are essentially one way of grouping people by ascribing a defined set of characteristics seen fitted to this group differentiating it from other groups. Stereotypes are easier to create when attributes are evident, consistent, and recognizable that sometimes people are not even aware that they are already stereotyped. Stereotypes may either be positive or negative or both. But any which way, Katz and Braly (1933) have been more concerned that our perception of groups or group differences may be seriously defective (as cited in McCauley, 1995, p. 216), which is dangerous, because our perception influences our attitude and behavior towards people. “Certainly, no one objects to generalizations as long as they stay at that level and are grounded in palpable fact. Who would deny that there are categories such as rebellious teenagers, reserved Englishmen, or excitable Latinos, even though exceptions abound (Kreyche, 1996, p. 98)” not unless off course, if they are used negatively. For example, calling someone a senior citizen because you would like to impress his/her old-agedness connoting physical and mental unfitness, or comparing someone to a politician because you perceived him/her to be liar, manipulator and power hunger are negative stereotypes. Stereotyping is dangerous when it is predetermined in pursuit of one’s vested interest. This is especially so if stereotype is consciously used for political persecution. The most common example today is stereotyping Muslims as terrorists, which news facts would tell that this stereotype justify military attack against Muslim nations. Another one is using stereotype to deny one group of their basic right to equal treatment and equal opportunity. For example, a gay teacher may be stereotyped as child molester or a sex pervert that may cause a hiring board to deny him employment even if he is educationally qualified or worse he is an easy target of these accusations. From a different viewpoint, stereotype in fact tells us the level of our understanding of people’s behavior, actions, and choices, which in another way tells also who we are – in effect by stereotyping other people, we are also stereotyping ourselves. For example, stereotyping tattooed persons as drug addicts only reveals our ignorance of art or of self-expression; stereotyping a feminist to be man-hater only reveals our ignorance of feminism; stereotyping a senior citizen to be mentally and physically weak only reveals our ignorance of the wisdom that comes with age; or stereotyping politicians as corrupt and abusive only reveals how politically aware we are. To further understand stereotype McGarty, Yzerbyt and Spears (2002) offer us “three principles: (a) stereotypes are aids to explanation, (b) stereotypes are energy-saving devices, and (c) stereotypes are shared group beliefs (p.2).” They explained that the first principle “implies that stereotypes should form so as to help the perceiver make sense of a situation (Ibid).” For example, when you are dealing with a politician, negative stereotype warns you that you should not believe everything that politician says or positive stereotype tells you that you should know how to make use of his/her power to your cause. “The second implies that stereotypes should form to reduce effort on the part of the perceiver (Ibid).” For example, if you needed a resource speaker on the status of women in the modern society, you could easily identify that you need a feminist. “And the third implies that stereotypes should be formed in line with the accepted views or norms of social groups that the perceiver belongs to (Ibid).” According to them, “this is the idea that there is a shared cultural pool of knowledge, social representations, ideology or culture from which different people sample and it is this which produces the commonality of views (Ibid, p.5).” Groups are more easily stereotyped based on the most prominent attribute that may commonly characterize them like color, gender, age, occupation, economic grouping, hobby, beliefs, physical appearance and others. For example, tattooed persons are commonly stereotyped based on their physical appearance; senior citizens are stereotyped based on their age; feminists are stereotyped based on their beliefs; while politicians are stereotyped based on their public image. Stereotypes are a combination of facts and myths and they are easily accepted if they are based more on facts rather than on myths. Stereotypes are also strengthened by language and rhetoric. In fact, well-accepted stereotype oftentimes coin related words that vividly define the stereotype in one word or phrase. For example, stereotype on senior citizens can be summarized as follows: bad memory cranky attitudes, terrible drivers, sickly, weak bones, pensioners, loves permanence, with problematic taste bud, hates noise, short-tempered, irritable, and smell like mothballs. From among this, what cling most are bad memory and weak bones. Looking at these stereotypes and comparing them with oldies that we know, not all are true, although some clinically characterize them for example weak bones and bad memory. If even these are not true to some that could be exceptions. That’s why if a teen-ager who at this age is expected to be vibrant, alert, energetic and active behaves otherwise, that teenager is called senior citizen. And to vividly describe the sluggishness of a senior citizen, a euphemism is usually used such as turtle-like and 48 years or others may use dementia or alzheimer’s to refer to them, because these sicknesses are commonly related to old age, or they are also referred to as antiques. Some of these stereotypes are negatives and positives. But I think, if a senior citizen tries to remain physically fit and alert even the negative stereotypes will not cling to him/her because it does not fit him/her. On the other hand, feminists are stereotyped as man hater, tough hearted, arrogant, t-bird, rough-mannered, dress like a man, domineering, prefers heavy work like driving a pick-up truck, shoveling, carrying heavy loads just like man, competes with man. These sound almost negative. In fact even the euphemism for feminist is negative because they are called amazons. But according to Wallflower (2007) these are “not true. Just the way that other stereotypes can be so incredibly false (i.e., a lot of gay people are not flamboyant at all, and low-income people can be extremely intelligent and achieved) (par.3),” because in fact feminist refer to anyone who believes in and advocates “the fundamental value that women should be equal—not radically superior, as the goddess-loving stereotype declares—with men (par. 5).” In this sense, feminist could in fact be a man! “Psychologist Laurie Rudmans research overturns the negative stereotypes about feminists. She found that strong, independent women have satisfying romantic lives, and their men are happy too (Branson, 2007, par 1).” Also, tattooed persons are stereotyped as proud, fierce warriors or carnival/circus workers, bikers, prisoners, Yakuzas, and ruthless. These are almost all negatives, and they become more negative because people mostly oftentimes refer to them in a derogatory tone. This negative stereotyping of tattooed persons may be attributed to tattooed and pierced gang members and criminals (Hudson, 2009, par. 3) who popularize tattoos in this modern century although tracing back from early history of humankind, tattooing is in fact an expression of self and indicative of one’s social rank. Today artists are trying to bring back the noble origin and purpose of body tattooing. And in fact, it is becoming popular not only among young people but even among adult ones. Although there is still lot to rectify from the choice of images to the way these tattoos are carried in public places. But without this stereotype, body tattooing is very artistic. And of course, politicians are stereotyped, too, and in fact they are the favorite. This maybe is brought about by the fact that since they are public figures whose oath is to serve the public gives the public the electoral right to criticize them. In fact try to “ask most Americans what they think of politics and youll likely get an earful. With suspicion and distrust of public servants running high, many citizens seem dispirited by the very process (Volgy, 2005, par. 1).” So it is not surprising if politicians are negatively stereotyped as corrupt, inept, self-serving, and lazy (par. 1). However, this political scientist and former mayor of a major western city “contends that most elected officials are the very opposite of what the public thinks: honest, hardworking people whose real work goes unnoticed by most of their constituents and the media (par. 1).” This negative stereotype of politicians may not be easily corrected because people see things that lead them to think this way. Maybe politicians should try harder to achieve good governance with their people for this negative stereotype to fade. From this discussion I learned that stereotyping group of people be it positive or negative constricts one’s perception of people and even the behavior. For example, if I see a priest tattooed his chest, without having rectified my negative stereotype of tattooed persons, then I might end up no longer going to mass because I know longer wanted to celebrate the Holy Mass with our tattooed priest or if I see a tattooed priest I might right away think that he is a paroled criminal converted to priesthood. If we perceive people and even behaviors base on their stereotype then I might end up not trusting anyone. Stereotypes are but part of our society because we relate with each other and although no same person is alike, one trait can be shared by many people which keep their bond. I don’t think that stereotyping will be stopped, because it is but natural for people to be attracted to groups. What instead should be avoided is judging people base on stereotype and using stereotype to demean, dishonor, embarrass or destroy people. References Branson, Ken. (2007). Researcher turns tables on feminist stereotypes – and causes a stir. Focus. Retrieved from http://news.rutgers.edu/focus/issue.2007-12-11.8402719519/article.2007-12-11.5347604727 Hudson, Karen L. (2009). Tattooed & Pierced - Breaking the Stereotype. About.com. Retrieved from http://tattoo.about.com/cs/articles/a/break_stereotyp.htm Kreyche, Gerald F. (1996). In Defense of Stereotypes. USA Today, 124 (2608): 98. McCauley, Clark R. (1995). Are Stereotypes Exaggerated? A Sampling of Racial, Gender, Academic, Occupational, and Political Stereotypes. In Stereotype Accuracy: Toward Appreciating Group Differences. Yueh-Ting Lee, Lee J. Jussim , & Clark R. McCauley (Eds.). Washington, DC.: American Psychological Association. Pp. 215-228. McGarty, Craig, Yzerbyt, Vincent Y., and Spears, Russell. (2002). Stereotypes as Explanations: The Formation of Meaningful Beliefs about Social Groups. Cambridge, England. Publication Year: Cambridge University Press. Wallflower. (2007). Feminist is not an insult. Retrieved from http://www.progressiveu.org/010616-feminist-is-not-an-insult Volgy, Thomas J. (2005). Politics in the Trenches: Citizens, Politicians, and the Fate of Democracy. Arizona: The University or Arizona Press. Retrieved from http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/books/bid1358.htm Read More