Stereotypes

Stereotypes are generalizations without flexibility based on limited or at times fictional evidence. As we categorize things in our world, we create generalizations. Although categorizing things in physical world may hold positive implications on our day to day functioning, categorizing people according to some attributes such as race, gender, sexual orientation, and age may hold very negative implications on how people are perceived and treated. Stereotyping occurs when people in a particular group are considered to have the same characteristics. Such thinking limits our ability to perceive differences within the group as the focus is on the differences between the groups.

According to Cortes (2001) differences exist between a group generalization and a stereotype. While group generalizations are based on scientific evidence and open to change as new evidence comes in, stereotypes are mainly based on media depictions and are resistant to change. Group generalizations recognize intragroup differences, whereas stereotypes foster intragroup homogeneity. While group generalizations provide clues about the members of a group, stereotypes provide rigid assumptions about the members of a group. Stereotypes can be positive and negative. In either case there are two major problems with stereotypical categorization of people: "first, people of all groups begin to believe the stereotypes; and second, both material and psychological resources are doled out accordingly" (Nieto, 2000, p.35).