Wth/125 Week 2

Jamie Stone
ETH/125
Week 2 Assignment

Define the following terms:

|Term |Definition |
|Stereotypes | |
| |A term used to define all people of a certain belief into a mostly negative category that may only |
| |reflect a selected few of the racial demographics |
|Prejudice | |
| |preconceived, usually unfavorable, judgments toward people |
|Labeling theory |A social theory that holds that society's reaction to certain behaviors |

Part II

Select three of the identity categories below and name or describe at least 3 related stereotypes for each:

• Race • Ethnicity • Religion • Gender • Sexual orientation • Age • Disability

|Category |Stereotype 1 |Stereotype 2 |Stereotype 3 |
|Race |Italians are good cooks |Whites are rednecks |Middle Easterners are terrorists|
|Religion |Baptists don't dance |All Catholic priests molest boys|Jehovah Witnesses think you're |
| | | |going to hell |
|Age |Youth have no sense |Teens think they have sense |Elders have lost all of their |
| | | |sense |

Part III

• What are the positive aspects of the stereotypes, if any?

As humans, it allows us to understand our culture. If we have a certain idol (whether a famous black basketball player, or famous white hockey player), it allows us to mold ourselves towards that person who is within our "stereotyped group". It allows us to evaluate members of that group, and then evaluate those characteristics. Per Wikipedia, stereotypes are said to be collective group beliefs, meaning that people who belong to the same social group share the same set of stereotypes.

I think it also helps us to understand possible danger and how to react to the negativity that it does create.

• What are the negative aspects of stereotypes?

When grouped into a stereotype, we have a mindset of how the group is labeled or what outside people has stereotyped the group. If the group has a negative label, the group will act out in a negative manner. It could also lead to mob mentality, which can harm people or things. It also allows people to judge an entire group of people, when that is not fair

Once a negative thought is formed about a group, i.e. the negativity about blacks that was created during slavery so many years ago, still has an effect on our thoughts today about black people. Once that negative thought is placed on a group, it is very hard to change that, regardless of time.

• What is the difference between stereotyping and prejudice? Use examples to illustrate the differences.

Stereotyping is when you refer to a group (religion, race, ethnicity), and you assume that everyone of that group has the same characteristics and beliefs. Stereotyping can close ones mind and not allow you to learn or understand the truth about a group. For example, when I was growing up, my surroundings fed me a certain negative thought about Black people, but once I got to know and have good experiences with this group, I found that the stereotype was completely wrong.

Prejudice is more of a negative feeling about a whole group of people. It's more of a judgement. It might be based on your own experience or it could be because you were taught that at home. Prejudice can turn into a form of hatred and when this hatred feeds the entire group against another group, it becomes increasingly dangerous. For example, the KKK white group hates all Black people.

• What is the relationship between stereotyping and prejudice?

The relationship between stereotyping and prejudice is that one is having the wrong impression of the person before meeting, understanding or analyzing that person or group, the other is when we recognize that we feel and act less positively towards others Stereotyping and prejudice often overlap each other. Being prejudice is having the feelings we have about particular groups. Stereotyping is the belief about social groups in terms of the traits or characteristics that they share. Stereotyping is bred from prejudice. It creates the thought of a person or group and prejudice negative thinking derives from that. A person that stereotypes doesn't consider themselves prejudice, but they have already stereotyped them by thought, which was created by prejudice. Stereotyping is inevitable. Prejudice can be controlled. Prejudice tends to receive more attention, is rehearsed more frequently, and is more likely to be remembered. Prejudice always involves Stereotypes.

• What can be done to prevent prejudice from occurring?

Preventing prejudice can begin at home. Encourage your children to be open to all people. Never use racial slurs or negative feedback against another around your children or within the home. If you are a parent, give your child opportunities to attend events about other cultures. Work with the teachers to coordinate such opportunities within the school. Never use racial slurs or negative feedback against another around your children or within the home. Conduct field trips to historical places that represent struggles against racism or places that show the values and traditions of another group of people. Include anti-racism education in your school's curriculum. Help to develop a strategy to change racist policies in your school.

The media also plays a huge role in conveying messages to the public. Prejudice exists in the media if, for instance, the reporters always reveal the cultural or ethnic background of a group when they are persons of color, but not otherwise. Writing a letter or contacting the local media stations will help increase their staff’s awareness about the implications of the prejudiced way in which they cover the news.