Genuine question about stereotypes

[wanttomarryamillionaire]

So yesterday i was listening to a radio show about the young black girl that was strip searched by police, they were talking about stereotypes. Then today i have been reading a thread about travellers and again it has raised a question for me about stereotypes. How do/did stereotypes of certain sections of society begin? Where do they come from? Im not just talking about the two I've mentioned above but all stereotypes. Genuine question, not trying to start an argument.

Bloody hell that is a BIG question.

I suppose you have to go back to when certain groups weren’t just seen as “other”, but were “other”. I.e. when lots of people had never actually met a black person, an Asian person, a traveller, or a French person, say (thinking about the Hartlepool folk who killed the monkey because they thought it was a Frenchman, whenever that was). So you’re going back hundreds of years, to when all there was was folk myth, conspiracy theory, and traveller’s tales.

Obviously that is quite place -dependent.

Even this past century, I think certain narratives get ingrained. For example, I think a general idea that “American divorcees” were bad news for the royal family was one of several prejudices that worked against Meghan Markle. Also the traveler stuff on MN never ceases to amaze me. That doesn’t seem to have diluted at all with time.

Prejudice.

'Othering' is right.

@GreyCarpet

Prejudice.

Yeah, I think the question is where the prejudice starts.

It’s enough subject matter for a doctoral thesis, though.

Probably not one single cause

Probably involves politics and money a lot of times

Like .. it's easier to justify a slave trade if the group you are trading is seen as subhuman

There is also an innate " are they like me" snap judgement we all make when encountering something new, where other is considered a greater risk / works well if the other is a lion , less well for a person

People fear what they don't understand

Your brain chooses to stereotype as it makes it easier to categorise vast amounts of information.

www.theguardian.com/science/2016/nov/01/human-brain-is-predisposed-to-negative-stereotypes-new-study-suggests

Some of them, unfortunately, are as a result of a kind of propaganda. It's useful for an oppressive group to build an image of an oppressed group that keeps them in their place. That justifies treating them differently or badly. Sometimes a group will internalise those stereotypes and so conform to them, which strengthens the stereotype further.

There are some that come about because of cultural differences, where quite a few members of group might display certain characteristics, eg. Stereotypes about clothing. Those aren't necessarily so harmful.

It’s useful to be aware of this and temper it and challenge

[quote Rummikub]Your brain chooses to stereotype as it makes it easier to categorise vast amounts of information.

www.theguardian.com/science/2016/nov/01/human-brain-is-predisposed-to-negative-stereotypes-new-study-suggests[/quote]
That’s interesting. Depressing, but interesting.

Also there will be some things about stereotypes that are not completely made up. Eg, Breton tops were/are common in a certain region of france. It is not uncommon to see tourists with cameras round their necks.

The issue with them is the limitations they place on a person and not that there is no reason or observation or even experience that is connected to them.

@MedusasBadHairDay

Some of them, unfortunately, are as a result of a kind of propaganda. It's useful for an oppressive group to build an image of an oppressed group that keeps them in their place. That justifies treating them differently or badly. Sometimes a group will internalise those stereotypes and so conform to them, which strengthens the stereotype further.

There are some that come about because of cultural differences, where quite a few members of group might display certain characteristics, eg. Stereotypes about clothing. Those aren't necessarily so harmful.

I suppose also when you consider how much of our global history has been built around war and competition- between tribes and between nations - for a long time there was an evolutionary point to competition, to propaganda, to hatred - and now we’re (supposedly) more evolved and moving beyond that to cooperation and inclusivity.

It does feel like we still have a long way to go.

It is isn’t it

Hence why essential to be aware of own stereotyping.
Everyone does it but must be aware and counteract it. Eventually it will change.

It does feel like we still have a long way to go.

It really does.

A Muslim stand up comic mentions how when he bumps into someone accidentally he feels the responsibility of attitude towards all Muslims. But when a white guy bumps into someone it’s just considered an accident.
Very funny and true routine.

Are travellers stereotyped? By the very nature, to be a traveller you aren’t paying rent or council tax- or am I missing something?

As a group yes they are stereotyped

@Rummikub

As a group yes they are stereotyped

Well that fills the gaps

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Are travellers stereotyped? By the very nature, to be a traveller you aren’t paying rent or council tax- or am I missing something?

I don’t even understand the framework of your question TBH. What’s the relevance of Council tax?

The prevailing negative stereotype of travellers/gypsies are that they are all dirty/anti-social/criminal etc etc. Which clearly isn’t true.

The prevailing negative stereotype of travellers/gypsies are that they are all dirty/anti-social/criminal etc etc. Which clearly isn’t true ok let me explain myself better, in order to be a traveller you aren’t settled in a dwelling, you move around- who pays for the upkeep of the land they temporarily rest on?

Try this to see the stereotypes
www.nhsggc.org.uk/your-health/equalities-in-health/who-is-protected-by-equality-law/marginalised-groups/gypsy-travellers/#

There needs to be a conversation about how to be inclusive. It’s made very difficult even if they do wish to be part of a community.
Chicken/ egg

Perhaps could say yes you can use Rhys land
Leave it as you find it etc

That was nonsense sorry ⬆️

Perhaps if local councils agreed land that travellers could use and as part of that agreement would be the area would be left in the same condition as it was found.