Negative Impacts of Stereotypes What Are Stereotypes? Essay

Negative Impacts of Stereotypes

What are stereotypes?

Stereotypes can be defined as generalizations passed about a group of individuals where they may be associated with particular kinds of characteristics which defines them in a particular way and attaches a label to them. This may be a negative attachment or a positive label but they have strong implications on those that undergo this stereotyping. It is generally easy when the group has some clear attributes that can be defined and identified in a particular way. These stereotypes may be based on qualities like race, ethnicity, color, gender, age, etc.

The impacts of stereotypes on the labeled groups can be quite long lasting and drastic. It may mentally torture a person and in some instances there are physical harassments taking place as well. There may be high levels of discrimination that a person has to face due to the stereotypes attached to him or her. The behavior and performance of individuals is sometimes shaped on the basis of these labels. According to the labeling and self-fulfilling prophecy, sometimes individuals end up taking on the labels attached to them and perceiving themselves from the point-of-view of others and they inevitably start acting upon them (Johnston, 2006).

Stereotypes distort facts and diminish a person's ability to think logically and analyze the situation because the preset ideas and opinions influence how to deal with the group and how to categorize and label their acts. It has lingering effects in situations where the stereotype goes on to accompany the individuals for life and the attitude of others towards them is defined in a particular manner which is sometimes unintentional but tends to take place on the sole reason of the stereotypes and the labeling factor.Examples of Stereotypes and their negative impacts

There are various forms of stereotypes that we come across on a daily basis around us and we sometimes act upon them without realizing it. One of these may be on the basis of gender. It is typically associated and observed that girls outsmart boys in certain subjects, are more responsible and hardworking and hence achieve better grades in schools and colleges. It is also noticed that boys are more playful and lazy than girls who are more studious. This becomes one of the reasons for more attention given to the girls in the classrooms rather than the boys. If the same question is asked by both a girl and a boy, the teacher is more likely to give attention to the girl because it a female is perceived to ask smart questions and be more attentive than a male student who likes to play and is not focused towards his studies. These attitudes and stereotypes end up shaping our attitudes towards people and discriminating them in various ways.

When it comes to men and women and their characteristics and traits, women are supposed to be very emotional and sensible while handling matters. Men, on the other hand, are seen as short tempered and act on their instincts without logically reasoning out the situation. This may not be true but this is how our mind sets have been shaped which makes us view things in….....