February 2007 Sources for project.

I have been thinking a lot about changing my project. I wanted to make a sort of encyclopedia of stereotypes but I've started to realize that there isn't really any way to do that without offending anyone. Instead, I want to try to look at the impact that stereotypes have on the lives on teens in America. What stereotypes are we exposed to in our daily lives? How does seeing these stereotypes affect how we view those around us?


In order to get a better idea of what I want to talk about, my first source is the dictionary.

Merriam-Webster. Webster's new Dictionary of the English Language. New York, NY: Merriam-Webster Inc., 2002.

"Stereotype n: gross often mistaken generalization."

"Individuality n: special quality that distinguishes an individual."

"Prejudice n: 1) damage esp. to one's rights 2) unreasonable attitude for or against something."

In order to further define my topic, I headed on over to wikipedia (as my second source) to learn about what really makes up a stereotype. How does this seemingly abstract concept hold so much sway over our ideas, attitudes, actions, and lives?

Stereotype- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia. March 16, 2007. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. March 25, 2007 .

From this site I started to learn about what makes up the social construction of a stereotype. I learned that:

"Stereotypes are ideas held about members of particular groups, based solely on membership in that group. They are often considered to be negative or prejudicial and may be used to justify certain discriminatory behaviors."

"stereotypes, by definition, are never accurate representations, but a projection of an individual's fears onto others, regardless of the reality of others."

I learned that there are a lot of different factors the contribute to the formation of stereotypes. These factors include:

• Simplification
• Exaggeration
• Generalization
• Presentation of cultural attributes as being 'natural'
• Unshakable belief in stability of stereotype
• Racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination
• Historical factors
• Guilt by association

I also learned that stereotypes can have different kinds of negative effects on people's lives. Some examples of this are:

• justification of ill-founded prejudices or ignorance
• unwillingness to rethink one's attitudes and behavior towards stereotyped group
• self-fulfilling prophecy for both stereotyping and stereotyped group (White people treat black people in a more hostile way due to being afraid of them. Black people accordingly react more aggressively, thus confirming the stereotype...)

I also learned about the difference between a prejudice and a stereotype. "Stereotypes are a generalization of characteristics; they reduce complexity, provide stability and also can offer opportunities to identify oneself with others." In other words, stereotypes can SOMETIMES be positive and create a good sense of solidarity within a certain unique group. "Prejudices are either an abstract-general preconception or an attitude towards individuals." They are most often negative and hinder understanding and acceptance.

My third source is my notes for my UNH class.

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology: Global perspectives (aka ANTH 411) taught by Nina Glick-Schiller. I have been looking a lot at our notes from the unit about the social construction of reality. In this unit we discussed why we hold our beliefs and ideas above those of others. This section of the course explains our prejudices in terms of racism and religion, blaming these two concepts for the basis of our concept of "us" and "them." I have all of these notes in my notebook for the class so I'm just going to use that as a reference for my final paper.

My next source was Jack Nachbar and Kevin Lause's Popular Culture: An Introductory Text. The textbook was published by Bowling Green University Popular Press in Bowling Green, Ohio in 1992. This book talks a lot what the function of stereotypes is in our society. It explains that stereotypes are sometimes useful but most often not. I have hand-written notes that can be handed in if necessary.