stereotype.

Stere

nou n

Verib

ster-e-o-type; [ster-ee-uh-tahyp]

reot ype :

A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a par-ticular type of person or thing: “sexual and racial stereotypes”.u n

ib View or represent as a stereotype: “the film is weakened by its ste-reotyped characters”.

‘cliche’.

My hood could be up because I’m cold or may-be I’m having a bad hair day, you see my point?“

Media Stereotypes“London Calling”

Do young males in the UK feel like they are constantly being stereotyped in a demeaning way in print and broadcast media? One young man offers an interest-ing take; that some Black males end up fulfilling the media’s stereotypical depictions.

“Of course, young Black males are being stereotyped because the media always say what we are not,” an 18 year old college student, Gerson, who provides only his first name, says. “If you keep saying someone is something; eventually they become it and believe it. For example, the media are always talking about us wearing hoodies so that’s only going to encour-age us to keep wearing them.” Another student, 18 year old Chris, who studies sociology, agrees with Gerson and adds that so long as White males con-trol major media, the stereotypes won’t diminish.

Jamal, 19, who is also a college student, says of U.K. media: “They portray us in a malicious manner and make out as if we carry out crime for the sake of it. I strongly believe that 90 percent of crime is to be rich because the media and the rest of society hold us back in other areas.”

Music producer Sean, aged 22, says the problem is that “Black male” is automatically linked with crime in this country. “If someone is murdered on the streets, the first suspect is a Black man or a gang of Black men,” Sean says. “People always assume that a Black man wearing a hoodie is a criminal; it frustrates me because for all you know, my hood could be up because I’m cold and I left my winter coat at home or

maybe I could be having a bad hair day, you see my point?”“Ryan Daniels, 20, a graphic designer, be-

lieves at the end of the day, only Black males can turn things around by taking matters into their hands.

“I believe education starts at home. If you respect your parents and they teach you the correct way to live your life, then you’re off to a good start,” Daniels says. “It’s almost impossible to change the perception of white people.

Media Stereotypes

GENDER STEREOTYPES

SupermanvS

BarbieNowadays, through the increasing power of mass media, it is a fact that images have a strong effect in the promotion of certain gender roles. These hidden forces shape us and our world view, often without us be-ing aware that they are doing so. Gender stereotypes occur when ge-neric roles have been applied toward either gender and the results are apparent everywhere in our society. The process of subtle gender shap-ing is all too present, even in children’s TV programmes, for example:

Males are stronger. Females like pink.

Males like blue. Females are nurses.

Males are doctors. Females belong in the kitchen.

Males should work. Females should be the housewife.

Males hare reading. Females are sensitive.Males are agressive.

Females drive too slow.Males are better drivers.

GENDER STEREOTYPES

somenareat least ibigger sloibs than most women

sloibs?‘stereotypically’.

menareat least ibigger sloibs than most women

sloibs?‘stereotypically’.

stereotypes.SCHOOLAny stereotype cannot continue to persist if it does not have at least some truth in it. Two things con-tribute to school stereotypes - school culture and image. Both are inseparable. The influence of one’s

school culture and image can be seen even years after one has left school. The English school stereotype can be very different to the American ones. Below highlights some of the main

English Secondary school stereotypes and the effects they have on an individual.

Nerd A stereotypical label used to describe a person that is socially inadequate. A four letter word, but a six figure income. A person who gains pleasure from amassing large quantities of knowledge about subjects often too detailed or complicated for most other people to be bothered with. Often

are the teachers pet.

emo Stereotype of people who have a lower tolerance for sad emotions, and feels inadiquet of their own personal worth. They have long dark hair and lis-

ten to a lot of loud heavy metal.

CHAVA working-class youth, especially one associated with aggression, poor education, and a perceived “common” taste in clothing and lifestyle. One who wears tracksuits, Fred Perry, Berghaus, and exces-

sive amounts of faux Burberry.

popularA stereotype of a group of young people, that are usually good looking and have expensive clothes. Females in this group are usually very concerned

with their appearance and their fashions.