STEREOTYPES, DISCRIMINATION AND POLITICAL CORRECTNESS

STEREOTYPING
Stereotypes are a widely held and oversimplified belief of a group of people. Stereotypes can be specific
to gender, age, race, cultural group or educational level. Please note that even though stereotypes can
be true about specific people, it is not fair to paint everyone with the same brush and lots of people
tend to break the stereotypes they belong to. Stereotypes can be positive or negative.

Some common examples:

(Disclaimer- this is not to say that any of these stereotypes are true, these are just general concepts of the world)

Men are bad at multitasking. Muslim people are terrorists.

Women are poor drivers. Asian people are good at mathematics.

Young people are all social media obsessed. Jewish people are good at business.

Older people can’t work with technology. Accountants are boring.

Black people can’t swim. Teenagers are rebellious.

White people can’t dance. Policeman are fat and like doughnuts.

Discuss:

 Which of these stereotypes are hurtful and why?

 Which of these stereotypes are positive and why?
 For all the negative stereotypes, think of one example that disproves this stereotype.
 How can a positive stereotype be a bad thing?
 What are some more stereotypes you know of and are they fair to this group of people?
 When can it be a good thing to stereotype, if ever?
 Discuss the following statement: The problem with a stereotype is not that it cannot be true, it’s
that it is not giving the full story. What does this mean?

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Stereotyping in movies:
Many movies rely on some form of a stereotype, especially when trying to create humour. This may be
used when creating the major or minor characters in the films. Have a look at some Disney examples:

Stereotypes:

Cinderella – the beautiful damsel in distress

Prince – knight in shining armor

Stepmother and sisters – jealous, ugly and cruel

Lately though many movies have sought to break these commonly portrayed stereotypes. Here is one
example:

Broken stereotypes:

Anna – the protagonist is a girl who, along with some help, is able to
achieve her goal and escape danger

Prince Hans – isn’t the knight in shining armour as he turns out to be a

bad guy

Kristoff – turns out to be the love interest, even though he is a

commoner

Discuss:

 Think of examples of movies that use stereotypes. What are these stereotypes and are they
hurtful or harmless?
 Think of examples of movies that seek to break stereotypes. How do they do this and is it
necessary?

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DISCRIMINATION:
Although stereotyping and discrimination go hand in hand, there is a big difference. While stereotyping
is a way of thinking (and can be changed or disproven when you get to know the person), discrimination
is when you act unfairly on a stereotype. Consider the following picture where different people are
applying for the same job:

Discuss:

 How are these people being discriminated against?

 What is the possible reason each person is not being considered?
 Who is getting chosen and why?
 What should be the criteria for getting a job?

Think and list three examples of the past or present where discrimination has taken place:

1. ______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________________

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POLITICAL CORRECTNESS
Political correctness is the avoidance of forms of expression or action that are perceived to exclude,
marginalize, or insult groups of people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against in the
past or present. Some examples of politically correctness are the following:

 Miss. and Mrs. has been scrapped for the commonly accepted Ms. so that women aren’t judged
for their marital status.
 Instead of saying “policeman”, some countries insist on saying “police officer” so as not to imply
women cannot take the job.
 The word “mentally retarded” has been scrapped as it carries a negative connotation and has
been deemed offensive and therefore has been replaced with the term “special needs”.
 Instead of saying someone is blind, a politically correct way of saying this might be “vision
impaired”.
 Instead of saying “Christmas holiday”, some countries insist on saying “festive season” so as not
to exclude those who are of other religions than Christianity.
 Instead of saying someone is black or white in race, you might say they are African or Caucasian
so as not to offend.

Discuss:

 Is political correctness always a good thing?

 Does political correctness make it difficult to communicate? Why or why not?
 When is it important to be politically correct, and when not?

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 PAT 1 Performance brief
Theatre with an Agenda: Questioning a Stereotype or Cultural Discrimination:
In groups of 6-8, write a short play which deals with stereotypes/stock characters or a cultural discrimination in the
form of a moral play (theatre with an agenda). Start or finish your play with a ritual dance you have created.

Use the WORKSHOP THEATRE METHOD to create your play following the criteria below:

 Each group member is responsible for contributing to the writing of the script.
 Each group member needs to have approximately the same amount of lines as the other group members.
 Each play should be 5 minutes long (2-2-1 scene structure) with a 30 s – 1 minute culturally motivated
dance either at the beginning or end.
 Individual planning activity worksheet to be completed by the due date: DUE DATE: __________
 Final scripts need to be handed in at due date. DUE DATE: ________________________
 At a later date, scripts will be performed by groups and video recorded for assessment.
 Group members are encouraged to act out their stereotypes and are allowed to use props and costumes
that can be worn over school uniform.
 PLEASE BE SENSITIVE IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS AND PERFORMANCES.

You will be assessed according to the following rubric:

5 – excellent 4 – very good 3 - satisfactory 2 – below expectations 1 – poor
Script: Student perfectly Student shows Student shows Student shows Student shows
Individual understands good adequate some/little little to no
characterization stereotyping and understanding of understanding of understanding of understanding of
has created a very stereotyping and stereotyping and stereotyping and stereotyping and
interesting has created an created an has created a has created a
character that interesting adequately mildly character that
contributes character that stereotypical stereotypical shows very little
effectively to contributes character with character. Could to no traits of
scene. effectively to satisfactory be more creative being
scene. contribution to in choices. stereotypical.
scene.
Script: Scripts is of Scripts is of Script is of Script is of Script is too short
Length and appropriate appropriate appropriate appropriate and there is little
progression length and shows length and shows length/ a bit too length/ too short to no progression
an excellent a good short and shows a and shows a of climax. Climax
progression of progression of satisfactory substandard and resolution
plot. Climax and plot. Climax and progression of progression of missing or
resolution is resolution is plot. Climax and plot. Climax and contrived.
interesting and mostly interesting resolution resolution
creative. and creative. adequate. unimaginative.
Performance: Student shows Student shows Student shows Student shows Student shows
Characterization excellent good adequate little very little to no
(voice, body and characterization characterization characterization characterization characterization
facial of stereotypical of stereotypical of stereotypical of stereotypical of stereotypical
expressions) character. character. character. character. character.
Performance: Student shows Student shows Student shows Students shows Students shows
Preparation flawless good preparation, adequate little preparation, little to no
(knowing lines) , preparation, participates and preparation, participates and preparation,
participation and participates and contributes participates and contributes to a participates and
enthusiasm contributes effectively and contributes small degree and contributes
effectively and shows good adequately and shows little poorly and shows
shows excellent enthusiasm. shows sufficient enthusiasm. little to no
enthusiasm. enthusiasm. enthusiasm.
Total ______20