Difference between revisions of "Stereotype"

From Conservapedia
Jump to: navigation, search
m
(removal of vmi material.)
Line 2: Line 2:
  
 
Regardless of the "positive" or "negative" nature of the stereotype, the problem with stereotyping is that it has the practical effect of forcing one's own perceptions of a group onto its members, who will not all share the trait being imputed to them.  Negative stereotypes are obviously damaging.  In the [[United States of America|United States]], stereotypes about the physical and mental weaknesses of women persisted until the 1970s and beyond, which found expression in law, and limited women from participating equally in certain professions.  For example, women could not become lawyers until the 20th century.  The damage from this stereotype is obvious.  Positive stereotypes may also be damaging, in two ways.  First, they "set the bar" high, allowing society to chastise a member of a group who fails to meet the high expectations society sets of him or her.  Second, they serve as a rallying point for jealousy and hatred.  The stereotype that Jews are all successful and wealthy underlay much of the violence and hatred that defined the [[Holocaust]], and still defines [[anti-Semitism]] today.
 
Regardless of the "positive" or "negative" nature of the stereotype, the problem with stereotyping is that it has the practical effect of forcing one's own perceptions of a group onto its members, who will not all share the trait being imputed to them.  Negative stereotypes are obviously damaging.  In the [[United States of America|United States]], stereotypes about the physical and mental weaknesses of women persisted until the 1970s and beyond, which found expression in law, and limited women from participating equally in certain professions.  For example, women could not become lawyers until the 20th century.  The damage from this stereotype is obvious.  Positive stereotypes may also be damaging, in two ways.  First, they "set the bar" high, allowing society to chastise a member of a group who fails to meet the high expectations society sets of him or her.  Second, they serve as a rallying point for jealousy and hatred.  The stereotype that Jews are all successful and wealthy underlay much of the violence and hatred that defined the [[Holocaust]], and still defines [[anti-Semitism]] today.
−
 
−
Stereotypes may be grounded in "[[real difference]]."  In the [[U.S. v. Virginia|VMI Case]], a [[Supreme Court]] case that resulted in the opening of [[Virginia Military Institute]] to women, VMI forbade entry to women on the grounds that most women were neither capable nor willing to undergo the "[[adversative method]]" training at VMI.  This decision may have been based on a "real difference," in that fewer women than men may wish to attend a military institution.  Justice Ginsburg wrote for the Court that the effect of this stereotype's persistence, and action upon it, precluded even those women who ''were'' capable from attending VMI.  Viewing this action as stereotyping, the Supreme Court ordered VMI to accept female cadets, applying its [[intermediate scrutiny]] test.<ref>U.S. v. Virginia, 518 U.S. 515, opinion of the Court by Justice Ginsburg.</ref>  Justice Scalia dissented, noting that the benefits of single-sex education outweighed any stereotyping harm.
 
  
 
Psychologists have shown that stereotypes nonetheless are helpful for human beings - it helps cut down on the information to be processed if the brain can make assumptions about a person upon first meeting, thus preserving processing power.  As a result, stereotyping is unlikely to disappear.  It can, however, be ensured that its legal effects disappear from the world.
 
Psychologists have shown that stereotypes nonetheless are helpful for human beings - it helps cut down on the information to be processed if the brain can make assumptions about a person upon first meeting, thus preserving processing power.  As a result, stereotyping is unlikely to disappear.  It can, however, be ensured that its legal effects disappear from the world.

Revision as of 00:58, April 20, 2007

A stereotype is a generalization or assumption about a group of people based on perceptions of the group's traits. Stereotypes can be positive (as in, "all members of Group X are smart and successful"), but are most often negative (as in, "all members of Race Y are lazy").

Regardless of the "positive" or "negative" nature of the stereotype, the problem with stereotyping is that it has the practical effect of forcing one's own perceptions of a group onto its members, who will not all share the trait being imputed to them. Negative stereotypes are obviously damaging. In the United States, stereotypes about the physical and mental weaknesses of women persisted until the 1970s and beyond, which found expression in law, and limited women from participating equally in certain professions. For example, women could not become lawyers until the 20th century. The damage from this stereotype is obvious. Positive stereotypes may also be damaging, in two ways. First, they "set the bar" high, allowing society to chastise a member of a group who fails to meet the high expectations society sets of him or her. Second, they serve as a rallying point for jealousy and hatred. The stereotype that Jews are all successful and wealthy underlay much of the violence and hatred that defined the Holocaust, and still defines anti-Semitism today.

Psychologists have shown that stereotypes nonetheless are helpful for human beings - it helps cut down on the information to be processed if the brain can make assumptions about a person upon first meeting, thus preserving processing power. As a result, stereotyping is unlikely to disappear. It can, however, be ensured that its legal effects disappear from the world.

References

Retrieved from "https://conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Stereotype&oldid=117591"