Stereotyping

A stereotype is defined as creating an oversimplified, false or generalized portrayal of a group of people. Such as: Black people are good dancers, Chinese people are bad drivers, Italians are passionate, women are emotional, or men are insensitive.  They are inaccurate and often derogatory.  Stereotypes prejudge a person's ability, skills, and personality based on unfair assumptions about racial, physical, or cultural traits.

Source:  http://www.albertahumanrights.ab.ca/publications/Information_Sheets/Text/Info_Stereotyping.asp

Overcoming Stereotypes: The keys to overcoming racial and ethnic stereotyping are recognizing stereotypes that you hold as truths and then making personal connections with people of other races to learn that the stereotypes you hold are unfounded.

Source:  http://racerelations.about.com/library/weekly/blstereotypes.htm

Stereotypes can:

• affect your judgments of individuals
• lead to discrimination
• hurt academic performance
• cause group members to try to "fulfill" the stereotype
• damage self-image
• affect memory
• lead to violence
• reduce a wide range of differences in people to simplistic categorizations
• transform assumptions about particular groups of people into "realities"
• be used to justify the position of those in power
• perpetuate social prejudice and inequality

Sources:  http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/index.cfm, http://racerelations.about.com/library/weekly/blstereotypes.htm

Some tips to overcome stereotypes in the workplace:

• Start a meaningful dialogue with an individual whose group is being stereotyped.
• Try to keep communication lines open, especially throughout conflict, to avoid misunderstandings.
• Question stereotypes and recognize them as "overly simplistic representations."

Source:  http://racerelations.about.com/library/weekly/blstereotypes.htm

About the gender gap in the workplace:

• There is a gender gap in the workplace, but closing it is possible and desirable since more women are entering the workforce and moving higher within the ranks of their companies
• According to one Web site, others describe females to be emotional, nurturing, sensitive, and good at cooking
• According to the same Web site, others describe males to be decisive, aggressive, logical, and independent
• However, these are just stereotypes.  By using the above tips to overcome these stereotypes, you will become more effective in the workplace
• Therefore, search for the "whole picture" and communication will be more objective, meaningful, and productive

Source:  http://www.hodu.com/stereotypes.html

Facts about stereotyping that may surprise you:

• All races produce stereotypes about themselves.
• Sometimes stereotypes can cross over to more dangerous territory and become "legal", as in the immigration restrictions against Chinese and Southern Europeans
• Who says men are always the batterers?  Men can also be battered -- over 2,000 gay men reflects that 1 in 4 of them has experienced domestic violence.
• The stereotype is that Asian-Americans are more successful and have a better educational background.  However, over 80% of Asian-Americans over the age of 25 had earned less than a ninth grade education, compared with 7% of all Americans, according to a study done March 1999.

Source:  http://www.shine.com/resources_fact_guides_stereotyping.php

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