Stereotypes: The Role Of Dominant Groups In Our Society

There are many different groups in this world that are either considered subordinate or dominant. Dominant groups have more of the privileges, while subordinate groups are oppressed and have stereotypes posed against them. Within the issues of racism, sexism, adultism, and ableism, there are numerous stereotypes contributing to the inequalities of society. These stereotypes enforce the racist, sexist, adultist and ableist behaviors and attitudes that exist in society. The discontinuation of these issues will help our society to bridge the inequalities to form an all around equal society. Because our society is divided into subordinate and dominant groups, inequality flourishes; in order to help discontinue racism, sexism, adultism and ableism,
Sexism is also a very large issue our society possesses today that could be discontinued if acted on in multiple ways. Sexism consists of inequality between genders and is a large issue that needs to be stopped in our society, and there are numerous ways we can help. Sexism consists of stereotyping and prejudices against women. The reading, Night to His Day, states that “[…]everyone does gender without thinking about it” (323). For example, a father who takes care of his child in public is “doing” gender by playing the role of a father. Another example is when you see a baby wearing pink clothes in which you perceive the baby to be a girl versus a baby wearing blue perceived to be a boy. These examples help to illustrate how we are constantly “doing” gender, whether it is the clothes we wear or how we generally act in society. There is the belief, though, that males are more powerful and obtain more control than females. The gender equality gap is immense and needs to be looked at more deeply in order to develop a plan for change. Men seem to be looked at as the bad guys as stated in the reading, Violence against Women Is a Men’s Issue, which reads, “When men’s role in gender is discussed- in newspaper articles, sensational TV news coverage, or everyday conversation- the focus is typically on men as perpetrators or potential perpetrators” (343). This supports the fact that males who are dominant always seem to be considered the malicious ones in a relationship or in society as a whole. Although men may be tough, that does not mean they are always to blame in a bad situation or even a crime. In order to stop these stereotypes against men, there should be increased attention on any type of media that seems to portray men as being abusive to their dominant power. Also, in the newspaper and during newscasts we, as individuals, can