Tessa Perkins: Stereotypes

Tessa Perkins: Stereotypes

Stereotypes are assumptions we make based on groups of people.

Stereotyping is not a simple process and contains a number of assumptions that can be
challenged.

Perkins identifies 5 such assumptions;

• Stereotypes are not always negative (e.g. 'The French are good cooks').
• They are not always about minority groups or the less powerful (e.g. 'upper class twits').
• They can be held about one's own group.
• They are not rigid or unchanging.
• They are not always false.

Assumption one: Not always negative

People assume that stereotypes are negative for e.g. young troublesome youths ‘hoodie culture’ however youth can also be seen as positive.

Assumption two: They are not always about minority groups or the less powerful

People assume that stereotypes are aimed at and targeted towards the less powerful but this is not always the case, we can make assumptions and stereotypes about Upper class minorities in the same way they would make assumptions about lower class people.

Assumption three: They can be held about one's own group

For example collectively as a representation of people everyone who goes to Wyke College is based as a group within Wyke College, within our own group we stereotyped people demonstrating even though we all belong to the same institution and hold the same ideologies as a whole, within the group we stereotype based on our assumptions. This makes each of us feel part of the larger community.

Assumption four: They are not always rigid or unchanging

Once a stereotype has been created it is very hard to change however Perkins states that over a period of time can change and develop e.g. Miley Cyrus.

Miley was an innocent country girl on Disney and has now rebelled dyed her hair and cut it all off, wears revealing clothing and has completely changed the way she sings.

Assumption five: They are not always false

Stereotypes have to have some truth in them.

We witness and read many stories in the media that help us shape and understand these stereotypes. We may witness it first hand or second hand however there must be some truth in a stereotype otherwise the ideology behind them would not have existed in the first place.