Is there any truth to stereotypes?

Question

There is some family resemblance among members of a group that you can generalize to a certain degree, and thus can be said to be true. So it's wrong to dismiss all stereotypes as bullshit. On the other hand, some stereotypes are far from reality, and they are used simply to offend others. You can dismiss these stereotypes as false. Do you agree?

>"stereotype" is referring to the hate and ignorance

Not really. There are positive stereotypes too.

xxx are beautifu.
xxx are polite.
xxx are hardworking. etc

Answer 1

I agree. I think about that a lot every time someone on Y!A freaks out about how 'all' stereotypes are based on bulls*it. Pretty much all the ones I can think of are based in reality because there was at least one person that did/does exist that fits each stereotype exactly, positive and negative.

There are a lot of smart Asians that play violin/piano very well. Some Asian countries are very strict about education and they put a lot of emphasis on good grades, more so than other countries. The Japanese created the Suzuki method of teaching that creates a "high ability", especially musically and most often with violin and piano.

The ridiculous 'black people like fried chicken' thing is based on a reality. Most American blacks have Southern roots because they have ancestors that were slaves. A lot of black people stayed in the South after slavery and, of course, grew up eating Southern food. Southern fried chicken, collard greens, grits, cornbread, etc. are SOUTHERN not just food for black people!!! Of course black people in the South ate this food often just like anyone else who lived in the South. I don't even know anyone who doesn't like that kind of food. It's insane how it turned into an insult against blacks.

Even the one about Jewish people and money. In the Middle Ages, Christians were not allowed to lend money for interest because the Catholic church said it was a sin. Jews weren't allowed to do much of anything as a profession so many were forced into the money lending business because the Torah didn't exactly say it was wrong. It was one of the few things the Jews were allowed to do and now people insult them by saying they are greedy!

There are a million others that go back to something which was never insulting in the first place but it was turned around and is now used as an insult of sorts.

Answer 2

sure i believe you there may be a few fact to them. i suppose its side of that entire wherein theres smoke theres fireplace. the smoke being the fact that tons within the flames of the fireplace, which i suppose could be all of the usual misconceptions. EDIT: i utterly believe Foil Front Man. if you do not like stereo varieties do not are compatible the mildew be distinct. if much less folks noticed whatever and began imitating it we don't have stereotypes. be your self and be distinct and nobody can stereotype you. be a follower and your asking to be stereotyped!

Answer 3

You can degrade anyone for anything...it is not about the characteristics, it is about the hatred behind it. You can call me a "blah, blah, blah". Yes, I might have features or traits to match it, but who cares - we all have things that can be made fun of, but "stereotype" is referring to the hate and ignorance, not the characteristic.

So, uh, yes, it's bullshit if you think hate and ignorance is Okie Dokie.

Answer 4

It's wrong to generalize people because every individual is different.

Answer 5

yes, i agree

Answer 6

Yep, they had to come from somewhere!