What I don't like is people who classify themselves, or other people. I am a person.

Get to know me as a person, and then let me know what category I fit into, and even then, forgive me if I don't care.

Deal With It: Stereotyping

Dr.Mohammad Khalid 4th MPH PHSA Peshawar

What Is A Stereotype?
A stereotype is something conforming to a

fixed or general pattern; especially: a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment. Common stereotypes of the past included a variety of allegations about various racial groups and predictions of behavior based on social status and wealth.

Stereotypes are considered to be a group concepts, held by one social group about another. They are often used in a negative or prejudicial sense and are frequently used to justify certain discriminatory behaviours. More benignly, they may express sometimes-accurate folk wisdom about social reality. Often a stereotype is a negative caricature or inversion of some positive characteristic possessed by members of a group, exaggerated to the point where it becomes repulsive or ridiculous.

Origins of the word

The word stereotype was invented by Firmin Didot in the world of printing; it was originally a duplicate impression of an original typographical element, used for printing instead of the original. Over time, this became a metaphor (application of a name or description to something to which it is not literally applicable) for any set of ideas repeated identically, en bloc, with minor changes. In fact, clich and stereotype were both originally printers' words, and in their literal printers' meanings were synonymous.

Stereotypes of groups by other groups

Common stereotypes include a variety of allegations about groups based around: race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, nationality, or religious belief; also profession and social class (see social stereotype). A variety of stereotypes usually exist within major social groups, and relate to the variety of identified sub-groups that exist within their own group.

Stereotypes in culture
For example, the stereotypical devil is a red, impish character with horns and a pitchfork (actually a trident), whilst the stereotypical salesman is a slickly-dressed, fasttalking individual who cannot usually be trusted.

Effects
Stereotypes can be extremely harmful to people. They are dangerous because they give us an incomplete or misleading image of a person or group of people, and if these stereotypes are reinforced enough, people accept them as true and therefore base their first impressions of people on these stereotypes. This means that before a person even knows you they have a preconceived notion of what youre going to be like. This can be extremely dangerous, especially if the stereotype is bad,

Because it can lead people who believe these stereotypes to commit harmful acts to people who fall into the stereotypes, even if its not necessarily true. Another problem is that many people justify their actions against other people with stereotypes or to reaffirm their sense of power above another group of people. This can result in hate crimes, in most of which the victim doesnt even fit the stereotypes perceived.

Avoid Becoming A Victim

Talk to the person in a calm voice. If you ignore the remark made that will only reinforce the negative image they have of you and your culture. Express your feelings to the person and how their remarks were hurtful to you. Threatening or insulting the person will only get them going even more. Ask them, Why do you feel that way? Be ready to give them the right information instead of attacking them with other stereotypes.

What to do when youre being stereotyped:

Reject the behavior they have exhibiting, not the person. They may be blinded by what they have heard in the past from society. Put aside your feelings of anger and really talk to and listen to what the person has to say they may have been a victim at some time also. If you think it may turn into a violent situation, call a teacher, a parent, or any other responsible adult.

Avoid Becoming A Perpetrator

Many times when conflicts arise, we see our opponent as more and more hostile and communication becomes severed. Then assumptions are made about the situation and the person you are at conflict with, which often leaves a negative impression with them. Eventually, opponents will develop a strong enemy image on the assumptions they may have built. This will result to a negative stereotype that can make resolution difficult.

question stereotypes and see that they are just generalizations- not facts. recognize the negative impact that stereotyping has on people. identify ways to deal with stereotypes when confronted with it. take a positive action in your school and community to help get the word out.

Get Involved: Do Your Part To Stop Stereotypes

The first thing that you can do to overcome stereotypes is to stop using them yourself. When you meet a new person, instead of basing your opinion of them on a stereotype that youve heard, get to know them, and then make a rational and educated decision about them. Dont let other peoples opinions about someone or about a group of people get in the way of you making friends.

Educate yourself about the different stereotypes out there and then educate others about the dangers of stereotyping people. If you hear a person make a racist, or any other joke that makes a generalization about any group of people, stop them and let them know that its not okay for them to be making those jokes.

THANKS