STEREOTYPICAL IMAGE IN MEDIA THAT HAS CAUSED HARM (Week 4)
Wednesday, 2 August 2017 | 03:28:00 | 0 Words
Stereotypes can have a negative and positive impact on individuals.Some of the stereotypes we typically encounter in ourselves and others can include gender,race,age,religion,sexual,orientation,body type,dress,Income,career/job,country of origin,state of origin,clothing, and many more.In our minds, create a picture of that entire person and place that individual into a stereotypical group. It is not just characteristics that set an individual apart that creates a stereotype, but also characteristics that cause us to place an individual as a member of a group, then infer that that individual is exactly like all other members of that group or that all members of that group are like that individual.That picture can then influence our jugements about that individual. Stereotypes can be positive (blonds have more fun) or negative (the Irish drink too much) in their original intent, but are still an abbreviated and inaccurate characterization that can cause harm.
Difficulties in differentiating gender roles in the modern societies can be a perfect example of the negative social effects of using stereotypes. A division of gender roles is deeply rooted in the social archetypes. In the past, the patriarchy was a dominant family model. Through the ages men have been considered to be financial providers, career-focused, assertive and independent, whereas women have been shown as low-position workers, loving wives and mothers, responsible for raising children and doing housework. Nowadays a family model is based rather on a partnership than on patriarchy and women have more rights and possibilities on the labor market. Feminist environment had a significant impact on the change in this situation. Women’s liberation movement fought for the rights of women and for redefining traditional gender roles. They claimed, that there should be no distinction between typical masculine and feminine occupations, and that traits of character should not be ascribed once and for all to one gender. Nevertheless, many social institutions, such as mass media, still use gender stereotypes, basing on the assumption, that they are well known to everyone and help the receivers to understand the content of the message.
What about an example where no harm has been caused?
1) Stereotypes can be threat where there will be no harm caused for example,women encouraged to think of themselves in terms of their valued and unique
characteristics were less likely to experience stereotype threat in mathematics
2) No harm can caused if each individuals who were asked to think of characteristics that are shared by ingroup and outgoup members, particularly characteristics in the threatened domain appeared to be less vulnerable to developing stereotype threat in conditions that normally produce it
What’s the difference between these two examples?
Some people say that it can be a jokes that stereotype and still understand that they’re likely not intended to be serious portrayals of minorities.
Some said that stereotypes are not always played off as well as they are and they can be offensive to a certain group.Stereotypes can be funny.But there is a right place and a right time. The right time is when you know the other person who is being stereotyped is going to be laughing with you.
