Media Stereotypes

Our lecture ask us to watch the video, Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People, this video about stereotype of Arabians. this video shows that Arabians is bad people, like violence and sex. This doctrine has been happening all along. 

What is stereotype?

- Stereotypes are generalizations about a group of people whereby we attribute a defined set of characteristics to this group. These classifications can be positive or negative, such as when various nationalities are stereotyped as friendly or unfriendly. (http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/stereotypes.htm)

- Stereotype are qualities assigned to groups of people related to their race, nationality, and social orientation, to name a few. Because they generalize groups of people in manners that lead to discrimination and ignore the diversity within groups, stereotypes should be avoided. (http://racerelations.about.com/od/understandingrac1/a/WhatIsaStereotype.htm)

While stereotypes may refer to a specific sex, race, religion or country, often they link various aspects of identity together. 

We can see the example from video Reel Bad Arabs, we've been influenced from the first that Arabians is bad. we too believe in the mass media, with a lot of movie we watch. We should be more able to filter out information that we can, and should be able to differentiate between good and evil, where right and wrong. Not everything we see is true, because in itthere can be an engineering. 

There are myriad stereotypes of Black people in America. If you're old enough, you may remember the television character "J.J", played by comedian Jimmie Walker in the 1970's sitcom Good Times. A wise-cracking young Black man, he was criticized as "television's most visible young African American male, [yet] he was devoid of any signs of maturity or intelligence." (Cose).

The good Indian ... has a handsome physique, unusual stamina, and calm, dignified bearing. He is brave in combat, and devoted to his family ... he lives in harmony with nature.

The bad Indian is lazy and lecherous, a slippery-fingered thief ... he is constantly on the warpath to get revenge on his enemies. (Spindel).

(http://www.retirethechief.org/Essays/stereotype0503.html)

Another example, we can see stereotypes of man and woman. Men as we know, they is strong can do work hard, greater than women. Women, more calm, housewife, can't work hard. We've thought that from long time ago, but now it has not happened again. now women can also forward, work hard, and could be more advanced than men.

According to our lecturer,

You need to remember some points: 

- Stereotypes are not always negative (e.g. nurses are compassionate and caring) 

- They are not always applied to lower classes of society 

- They can be held about a group you belong to 

- They can change according to time and fashion 

- They are not always untrue

Stereotyping not only is wrong, but also it is hurtful. Even if the stereotype is correct in some cases in our life, but putting someone down based on your preconceived perceptions will not encourage them to succeed. So don't easy to judge people.