Sterotypes

What are stereotypes?

Definition: A stereotype is “…a fixed, over generalized belief about a particular group or class of people.” (Cardwell, 1996).

Be it positive or negative, stereotypes creates a barrier in communication within our society. Example of one negative stereotype are that individuals with body art such as tattoos and excessive piercings are considered “bad” in nature and that they are all delinquents and cannot find a proper job.

Would you trust a doctor who is covered in tattoos and piercings with your life? If you see a doctor like that, chances are you wouldn’t even believe that he is a doctor, let alone your life.

How does stereotypes affect communication

Be it a positive or negative stereotype, almost everyone in this world had either experienced or witnessed it before. The most prevalent and controversial forms of the stereotype are sex and race. Example of one negative stereotype of African Americans is that they were more likely to appear as perpetrators in drug and violent crime stories on network news. Because of this negative stereotype of African Americans, many tend to avoid them.

For example, one of the positive stereotypes of African Americans is that they are more athletic and better at sports compared to white people. Because of this, sometimes we might even say things to others which might not be accurate. That could result in the other party having a bad reaction.

What are the implications of stereotyping occurring in your social life?

I have friends who have tattoos, my first impression of him was that he was a gangster and would be very unfriendly. However, after getting to know him better, I saw that he was really hardworking and that he got those tattoos when he was younger and regrets it now due to the stereotypes placed on people with tattoos.

In conclusion, I believe that stereotypes could affect different groups of people positively and negatively. It is not easy for those who are negatively stereotyped to make a good impression to others. Thus, it is important of us to be weary of these stereotypes and not judge others so quickly.