Stereotyping... Can we help it? Or is it even wrong?

Wrong or right?  Does everyone do it?  Can we help it?

Stereotyping is defined as “...a fixed, over generalised belief about a particular group or class of people.”  My argument is that stereotyping is something which, although looked upon negatively by society, is a process that we all use in pretty much every social situation.  In order to be able to get on in life we must have some sort of system in place through which we can form a preliminary opinion of an individual before we actually engage with them.  Yet it is something that we are made to feel bad about.

We stereotype all the time.  From watching the opposition football team warming up on a Sunday afternoon, seeing a black guy with pink boots and thinking 'ooh he's going to be quick lads!' to seeing a white boy in Reebok classics, a Hackett polo and Burberry cap and thinking 'he definitely lives on a council estate'.  The 'appropriateness' of stereotyping first entered my mind when I was in a corner shop/convenience store and asked the Asian guy at the counter whether he knew the India cricket score.  Now was I wrong to ask him that, assuming that he'd know the answer because of his racial appearance?  I don't think I was.

Many reality television shows are currently creating/reinforcing certain geographical stereotypes.  By watching 'The Only Way Is Essex' you'd think that everyone from Essex had fake boobs, an overdose of fake tan, and the IQ of a 4 year old.  Likewise, 'Made in Chelsea' depicts all its residents as ditzy, rich twats who would bore your socks off if you were ever unfortunate enough to get into a 'conversation' with one of them.  I'm sure 'Geordie Shore' will likely continue the trend - no doubt all the characters will be loud mouths who get paralytic every night, get into fights, and sleep around - I'd put money on that and the show hasn't even aired yet!  However, any person with half a brain cell will realise that not everyone from these places speak, look, or behave in the same way as the characters but yes certain countries, cities and towns do produce particular traits - that can't be argued.

Maybe stereotypes only become a problem when they have serious negative connotations.  I don't mean assumptions like black people can't swim or white people can't run fast.  But there are other stereotypes, not without truth, that cause a real stir if suggested.  A black male youth is more likely to commit a crime than a young white youth.  FACT.  A terrorist is more likely to have roots in a Middle Eastern/Asian country.  FACT.    Men know the offside rule better than women.  FACT.  I haven't completed any studies on the above but I would challenge anyone to go out and prove them wrong.

Just briefly to look at the other side of stereotyping - there are also many stereotypes that are quite flattering to the targeted group.  Some examples - People from the north of England are very friendly, Italians are good cooks, Asian/Oriental people are good at maths.  So what is the problem with them as a whole if in general they are true?

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that although stereotyping is deemed to be a practice we should steer away from, 'most' of the time there is actually some truth to them - the majority of traffic wardens are most likely of African descent, a large amount of manual labourers in the UK are Polish, nurses are more likely to be female - who can argue against these?  Sometimes a stereotype would more accurately be called a fact.  Of course there are stereotypes that aren't true - women are bad drivers or all gay men are camp are just two examples.  I think that the problem arises when people start actually acting on certain stereotypes - like crossing the road to avoid walking past a group of hooded youths or getting of the bus/train if there is a bearded Asian man with a back pack on - I admit to having done both of these in my lifetime so far and I am not proud of it.  Yes stereotypes often have statistical backing to them but that does not mean that a whole race or age group should be tarred with the same brush and subsequently discriminated against.

What do you think?

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