Appendix B

Part I

Define the following terms:

Term Definition
Stereotypes Unreliable, exaggerated generalizations about all members of a group that do not take individual differences into account

Prejudice A negative attitude toward an entire category of people, such as a racial or ethnic minority

Labeling theory The act of the majority negatively labeling the minority and influencing them to adhere to the label

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
Gender Women belong in the kitchen Women can’t drive All men love sports
Race Blacks are criminals Blacks like living on welfare All Asians are smart
Ethnicity Mexicans only come to the U.S. to work on farms Germans hate Jews French people are all snooty

Part III

Answer each question in 100 to 150 words related to those stereotypes:

• What are the positive aspects of the stereotypes, if any?
I can’t really think of too many positive aspects, but one positive aspect of stereotypes is that some people listen more and trust what Asians say rather than someone of a different race because they believe that all Asians are smart. Using this knowledge, the media could use Asian people (and men specifically because of the stereotype that they are smarter than women) to get news out about a new virus, an emergency, or other breaking news.

• What are the negative aspects of stereotypes?
There are many negative aspects of stereotyping. The fact that people identified Arab Americans as best suited to be terrorists in a movie or on television shows that most people treat the ones they see as if they might actually be terrorists and they are always watchful that something awful might happen. People also saw them suited to be convenience store clerks, which shows that they don’t think them capable of doing anything difficult or of being professionals. The same people asked identified Italian Americans as crime bosses, and they would most likely act around them as if anything bad that they say could get them or their family hurt.

Answer each question in 150 to 250 words related to those stereotypes:

• What is the difference between stereotyping and prejudice? Use examples to illustrate the differences.
The difference between stereotyping and prejudice is that stereotypes are exaggerated generalizations about a certain group while prejudice is just how a person feels personally about that group. A person may know the stereotype that blacks are criminals, but if they have had nothing but positive experiences with black people, they probably would not treat them the way they would someone they thought would rob them. People also might question the stereotype that blacks like living on welfare if all the ones they have known are good citizens with excellent jobs that take good care of their families.

• What is the relationship between stereotyping and prejudice?

The relationship between stereotyping and prejudice is that if someone knows only a few members of a group that and they are stereotypical, they would have more belief in the stereotype than someone that knows a larger selection of the group. Using my earlier example, if someone only knows black people that have just gotten out of jail or ones that have been arrested a few times, they would be more likely to treat all blacks as though they are criminals. Prejudice helps enforce stereotypes and stereotypes help enforce prejudice. It’s a horrible circle of treating people wrong.

• What can be done to prevent prejudice from occurring?
In order to prevent prejudice from occurring, people need to be educated and taught that people of a certain race, ethnicity, gender, etc. are not all the same. People should also be introduced to more cultures so that they can make their own decisions instead of just basing everything they believe on what they are shown on the television, in movies, and on the news. Also, the media needs to stop showing such stereotypical ideals of groups. There are always going to be some members of a group that are stereotypical, but the majority of them are not. Most of them are normal people that go to work and then come home and take care of their families.