Rhetoric and stereotype - Essay Example

According to Loury (2003), stereotyping is a social phenomenon where all the members belonging to a particular social category are judged on the basis of preconceived set of ideas which are distorted, exaggerated and oversimplified in nature (Shepard, 2010, p. 246). Stereotyping Politicians People in the field of politics have been the victim of stereotyping since a long time. People working in politics are portrayed in a very negative way in different media like television programs, movies, novels etc.

Their image is so tarnished that everyone assumes that all the people who work in politics are corrupt and dishonest by nature (Shepard, 2010, p. 246). People working in politics have been trapped in such a bad image that people assume that all the politicians are selfish by nature (Charon, 2010, p.358). The stereotyped thinking has become so strong that people fail to realize that there are good politicians who care for people, get things done and are not selfish (Charon, 2010, p.358). People generalize their opinion on the basis of exposure of corruption by some politicians (Clinard & Meier, 2008, p.197). However, stereotyping affects the image of all the politicians negatively.

Assuming that all politicians are corrupt, selfish and untrustworthy harms not only the life of good politicians but also create an obstacle in relationship between people and their political leaders. Stereotyping Senior Citizens According to Nelson (2005), senior citizens are suffering from many negative stereotypes concerning their age (Clayton, Garcia & Crsoby, 2010, p.235). There are many wrong beliefs about people who are old. People wrongly believe that most of the elder people are unhealthy and mentally weak (Clayton, Garcia & Crsoby, 2010, p.235). People think that senior citizens are cranky, stubborn and frail (Clayton, Garcia & Crsoby, 2010, p.235). These baseless assumptions about senior citizens cause a decline in the quality of the life they live.

According to a study by Pasupathi and Lockenhoff(2002), the stereotypes about senior citizens affect the decisions concerning senior citizens in areas like “work, health, relationships and quality of life” (Clayton, Garcia & Crsoby, 2010, p.235). The stereotypical thinking makes people to forget the positive qualities of senior citizens like maturity, experience, wisdom, practical nature etc. The negative stereotypes attached to senior citizens have led to underutilization of the benefits, potential and positive qualities associated with senior citizens and old age (Clayton, Garcia & Crsoby, 2010, p.235). Stereotyping Feminists Women experience stereotypical thinking not only concerning their personal life but also concerning their professional life.

Right from their childhood, they are treated according to the stereotypes concerning them and it continues even in their elder age. The general stereotypes concerning women is that they are highly emotional, irrational and confused beings, who are incapable of taking decisions and handling their lives correctly (Clayton, Garcia & Crsoby, 2010, p.235). Gutek (2001) has observed that in different countries and since a long time, stereotyping has impressed upon people that only men make good leaders and managers as these positions need masculine qualities and hence, women face discrimination at work place (Clayton, Garcia & Crsoby, 2010, p.566). Also, because of stereotyping, quality of power has got associated with men while weakness has got associated with women, which is wrong thing.

According to Calasanti and Slevin (2001), as women grow old, they are judged harshly by others and are given insulting tags like “old bags” and “over the hill” (Clayton, Garcia & Crsoby, 2010, p.235). These stereotypes are extremely negative and unjust for women as they are the ones who live longer, take care of their children and family for long time, handle the responsibility of home as well as finances, and are always there giving a warm and loving support to the family (Clayton, Garci