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. (Chapter 2 pg. 40) | Prejudice | A negative attitude toward an entire category of people, such as racial or ethnic minority. (Chapter 2 pg. 35) | Labeling theory | A sociological approach introduced by Howard Becker that attempts to explain why certain people are viewed as deviants and others engaging in the same behavior are not. (Chapter 1 pg. 18) |
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 | Race | Irish people are drunks | Southern White people are rednecks | Asians are great at math | Gender | Woman are weak | Men are more intelligent | Girls are not good at sports | Sexual Orientation | Homosexual men are obsessed with fashion | Homosexual women dress masculine | All heterosexual men like sports |
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 believe when stereotyping occurs it is more often for a negative reason. Although I believe that individuals can take stereotypes and turn it into a positive. For example the stereotype that Asian people are smart and good at math, I believe this stereotype pushes some Asians to prove it right. I always did very well in math, when I was in school. My fellow classmates said that I was only good at math because I am half Japanese in me. In my opinion, math was always easy for me but the stereotype did push me to want to stand up to it. I also think that many people hear negative stereotypes and strive to prove that they are wrong. I have heard the stereotype that African American’s are lazy, yet Obama went as far as becoming president. I am sure he didn’t do that to prove a stereotype wrong but I believe many individuals are motivated by the negativity of stereotypes they live with on the day to day.
* What are the negative aspects of stereotypes?
Just as the positive aspects of stereotypes are to better your life and prove them wrong, the negative aspects of a stereotype are that people start believing them. An African American can be told over and over that because he is black that he is lazy, he may become lazy and blame it on his race. Stereotypes can really cause someone a lot of pain and hurt as well. Some people do not always take these stereotypes with a grain of salt. People have harmed themselves and others, have ran away from home, and done other extreme things in reply to stereotyping. Stereotyping can have many negative aspects, therefore it is ideal to stray from them.
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. Stereotyping is creating a generalization about a group that is exaggerated or unreliable, they lack taking individual differences into account. Saying that all Irish people are drunks is a stereotype. I am half Irish and my dad’s family is 100% Irish and, very little of them even drink. Stereotyping is not only applied to categories of people but it is applied to things such as careers, vehicle makes, product brands and so much more. Prejudice is a negative attitude toward an entire group of people. When an individual is prejudice they may ask to get a new college roommate or switch people to share a cubicle with due to a person’s race or ethnicity not because of something the person did as an individual. The main difference between stereotype and prejudice is that prejudice is an action while a