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STEREOTYPES

By Muhari Vincent

A stereotype is a biased or misrepresented thought of the qualities which encapsulate an

individual or groups which might prompt treating them with a certain goal in mind. Stereotypes

are more often than not: inaccurate, overgeneralized and impervious to new information.

Stereotypes are untrue, discriminatory and biased statements.

There are two types of stereotypes. Explicit stereotypes allude to profiles that a person

knows one has, and acknowledges that one is using to pass judgment. Implicit stereotypes on the

other hand are those on people's subconsciousness. The individuals have no control or familiarity

with. In the sociologies and a few sub-disciplines of mental research, generalities are incidentally

imitated and could be recognized in specific theories.

Everyone engages in stereotyping and biases. People may get a kick out of the chance to

accept that they are not defenseless to these predispositions and generalizations. This reality,

notwithstanding, doesn't imply that you are essentially biased or leaned to oppress others. It just

implies that your cerebrum is working such that makes affiliations and speculations. Regardless

of how we are affected by our current circumstances and the generalizations that currently exist

in the general public into which we were born, it is often difficult to detach yourself from

society's influence. It is the normal propensity of the mind to filter, sort, and classify data about

the world that prompts the arrangement of these implied predispositions.

Racial profiling is stereotypes against a group of human sharing physical or social

qualities distinct categories. Saying that Blacks are wonderful in sports, for example, is a

stereotype because it gathers competition to prove that everyone of that race is a decent athlete.
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competitor. Researchers found that exposure to television for a long period of time predicts a

lower self-esteem for black boys and all girls whereas for white boys, increasing self-esteem,

(Yuen, 2019). Racial profiling has a large effect on people of the said race.

Gender stereotypes are a summed-up view or bias with regards to properties or qualities,

or the occupations that women and men do or should do. Statements such as men are stronger

than women, men are disorganized and unclean and women cannot do better work than men are

examples of false generalization. Both men and women can do what they like to if they put their

minds and efforts to it.

Stereotypes about cultures and countries too exist. Social stereotyping happens when one

expects that all individuals inside a culture behave, act and think the same way. Examples of

such include, all Jews are glaton, all Asians are mathematicians who prefer to eat rice and drive

slowly, and all Irish people are alcoholics who eat potatoes.. Most cultural stereotypes are false

since they are drawn from actions of a few members of a certain culture.

Religious profiling is one of the oldest stereotypes. The stereotype that every Muslim is a

terrorist is highly misplaced. This false belief makes Muslims unable to pray in the open freely.in

his work, Oshiro claims that the Muslims are attacked as activists when they pray. They say they

are stereotyped while traveling, they are the unfair victims of a foolish conflict, (Oshiro n.d.).

Religious stereotypes are the most dangerous.

Sexual stereotypes define men and women according to their physical appearance. There

are men who have a feminine appearance. Sexual stereotypes conclude that such a man must be

gay whereas a masculine woman must be a lesbian. More often than not, people who believe in
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sexual stereotypes may also hold the idea that homosexuality is an abomination, immoral and

wrong. Sexual stereotypes are backward and outdated.

Stereotypes portrayed in films could and can have adverse effects. Past unequivocal

ramifications for explicit social occasions of watchers, racial pictures packaged as amusement

can point the manner by which all crowds appreciate and sort people. Famous telecom can

antagonistically influence whites' impression of minorities and ethnic speculations in film can

fuel past biased sensations of fear, (UNHR, 2020). Film producers should ensure that no

stereotypes are filmed in their production.

Stereotyping is not just pernicious; it is additionally wrong. At a tender age, it could lead

to bullying. The behavior can be carried on into adulthood. Racial stereotypes like blacks living

in the states are all robbers or thieves have led so many black fears going to the states. In

addition to that, some people have been arrested on false information just because they are black.

In the case of the late George Floyd, many would argue he received that kind of treatment is

because he was black. Stereotypes have proven to be dangerous in the past and should be

discouraged at all costs.

Several reasons lead to the formation and existence of stereotypes. Sociologists claim that

stereotypes exist due to some deprived human aspect in an individual. They suggest that

stereotypes are as a result of either inadequate emotional development, poor parenting, conflict

or inadequacy in mental development. Psychologists however focus on one's experience with a

group of people, communication patterns about the said groups in addition to intergroup conflict.

Existence of stereotypes can be concluded to be as a result of human interactions.

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Formation of stereotypes doesn’t guarantee their persistence. The persistence of

stereotypes can be explained by two main factors. The first is cognitive effect. Also referred to as

schema. This effect of schematic processing ensures the persistence of stereotypes when an

individual of a group acts as expected or stipulated by the stereotype. This only strengthens and

confirms the theory. Second, the emotional or affective parts of bias render legitimate

contentions against bias insufficient in disputing the control of enthusiastic responses.

Implicit prejudice can impact how one acts toward an individual from a certain social

group. According to researchers, implicit bias could have effects in settings such as legal

proceedings, work and school. For instance, in school, girls have shown to prove that females

prefer languages over sciences and math. With this in mind teachers will respond to female

students differently from the boys. At workplaces implicit biases affect how people are selected

for promotion or work. In a legal setting, Black defendants will be handled differently from the

Whites. It is certain that implicit bias affect how different people are treated.

Media and social websites influence people’s behavior especially when they show some

stereotypes. In research from Bogt et al. (854), youth television content, has been linked to a

number of stereotypical sexual attitudes. They show that ladies are to be valued based on their

looks thus perceived as sexual objects. This view will make women live with constant fear of

sexual harassment from men who are portrayed as sex-driven. This fear is to be blamed on the

media.

Dealing with stereotypes is not easy as it may sound. There are a number of ways to deal

with stereotypes. Investing energy with individuals thinking about them on a closer, individual

level. When one perceives their reaction to a person may be established in predispositions or

generalizations, work to deliberately change the reaction ought to be made. Taking a chance at
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look at things according to someone else's view could reduce stereotyping. Finding out with

regards to various societies by going to local area occasions or displays would likewise lessen

stereotypes.

In conclusion, stereotyping is a vice that should fought against. Serious action needs to be

taken on people who encourage stereotyping. Laws should be made against stereotyping

especially on those that degrade or lack respect to human life, cultures or diversity.
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Work Cited

Bogt, Tom F. M. ter, et al. “‘Shake It Baby, Shake It’: Media Preferences, Sexual Attitudes and

Gender Stereotypes Among Adolescents.” Sex Roles, vol. 63, no. 11–12, 2010, pp. 844–

59. Crossref, doi:10.1007/s11199-010-9815-1.

Oshiro, By Michael. “Op-Ed: If You See a Muslim Praying in Public, Please Don’t Call the

Cops.” Al Talib, 3 Mar. 2014, al-talib.org/if-you-see-a-muslim-praying-in-public-please-

dont-call-the-cops.

United Nations Human Rights. “Human Rights.” Ohchr.Org, 2020,

www.ohchr.org/en/issues/women/wrgs/pages/genderstereotypes.aspx.

Yuen, N. W. Y. (2019). How Racial Stereotypes In Popular Media Affect People — And What

Hollywood Can Do To Become More Inclusive. Scholars.Org.

https://scholars.org/contribution/how-racial-stereotypes-popular-media-affect-people-

and-what-hollywood-can-do-become