Stereotypes By Doreen, Hope and William

DEFINITION:
A WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED ASSUMPTION OF A SPECIFIC GROUP OF PEOPLE EXHIBITING CERTAIN
BEHAVIOURS OR HAVING CERTAIN ELEMENTS IN THEIR PERSONALITY, LOOKS OR SKILL.

IN THE OUTSIDERS:
THE SOCS AND THE GREASERS (HOW THEY ARE DIVIDED INTO POOR PEOPLE AND RICH
PEOPLE, HATING EACHOTHER)
“ARE YOU GOING TO START IN ON US? YOU DON'T LOOK THE TYPE”
NEWSPAPER HEADING “JUVENILE DELINQUENTS TURN HEROES” - THE PUBLIC DIDN'T
EXPECT "JUVENILE DELINQUENTS" TO BE GOOD PEOPLE LET ALONE JUMP INTO A
BURNING BUILDING TO SAVE CHILDREN; RISKING THEIR OWN LIVES.
PONYBOY ASSUMED THAT ALL OF THE SOCS CONCEALED THEIR EMOTIONS AND WERE
COLD TO EVERYBODY, LIKE THEY WERE ALMOST INHUMAN. THAT ALL THEY WERE WAS
RICH AND DANGEROUS. HOWEVER, LATER HE REALISED THAT IN REALITY THEY WERE
ALL HUMAN, JUST LIKE THE GREASERS.

IN THE REAL WORLD:

WOMEN AREN'T AS SMART AS A MEN
ASIANS ALL EAT RICE AND THEY EAT DOG MEAT
ASIANS ALL PLAY THE PIANO AND/OR THE VIOLIN)
ALL ASIAN PARENTS HIT THEIR CHILDREN WITH HOUSEHOLD OBJECTS
ASIANS ALWAYS BARGAIN AND RARELY BUY THINGS AT FULL PRICE, THEY ALSO LIKE TO
TRY FREE SAMPLES AT THE STORE OR MARKET.
WOMEN SHOULD STAY AT HOME TO TAKE CARE OF THE HOUSE AND CHILDREN; BE A
HOUSEWIFE.
CHILDREN IN AFRICA ARE ALL STARVING

A lot of stereotypes are based on first impressions, inferences and assumptions

on people who are "different" or things we may be unfamiliar with. We are often
influenced by our families, friends, the internet, and the media. Prejudice forms
stereotypes which in turn causes prejudice.

CONNOTATIONS:
FALSE - MOST STEREOTYPES ARE BASED OFF OF IMMEDIATE ASSUMPTIONS.
TRUE - STEREOTYPES ARE BASED OFF OF COMMON OBSERVATIONS.
RACISM- MANY STEREOTYPES ARE DIRECTED AT AN ETHNIC GROUP.
NEGATIVE - STEREOTYPES CAUSE PEOPLE TO MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT OTHERS
WITHOUT GETTING TO KNOW THEM AT ALL. IT STRIPS US OF OUR INDIVIDUALITY.

EXAMPLES IN OTHER LITERATURE:

THE ILLUSTRATIONS IN DR SUESS' BOOKS DEPICT ASIANS AS SHORT MEN WITH A LONG
BRAID, EATING FROM A BOWL WITH CHOPSTICKS. THEY ARE PORTRAYED IN A DEGRADING
MANNER.
IN CHARLES DICKENS' BOOK "GREAT EXPECTATIONS", THE WOMEN HE WROTE ABOUT
WERE ALMOST ALWAYS MANIPULATIVE, DEVILISH OR EMOTIONALLY UNSTABLE. HE WROTE
WITH BIAS AGAINST THEM AND TO HIM, THEY WERE "PROBLEMATIC".