When is something a stereotype instead of a cultural trait?

Question

It seems when you make a comment about certain groups of people it is always considered a stereotype, but when you say something like, "Middle Eastern people have a different concept of personal space than westerners." It is considered a cultural trait? Can't there be cultural traits for different cultures living in the same area?

Answer 1

I'm definitely no expert on the topic, but I imagine a cultural trait is something that can be shown, using science and/or statistics, to be specifically apparent in the majority of cases for the given population. A serious study would be one that not only recognized the trait, but also tried to explain its existence; its cause; its effects; and, possibly, a solution, if one is required. Whether it be a genetic trait, cultural, religious, environmental or whatever.

Using your example, "Middle Eastern people have a different concept of personal space than westerners.", in order for it to be a cultural trait instead of a stereotype, one would first have to take a poll on a variety of stances regarding "personal space" in Westerners, do the same for Middle-Easterners, then have a team of sociologists analyze the results of the poll for the criteria I listed above, in order to explain the phenomenon, if any.

Whereas a stereotype is the perceived traits of a particular group, generally with no facts to back it up. With the necessary evidence, "stereotype" and "cultural trait" could be used interchangeably, but "stereotype" generally has a more negative stigma attached to it.

Answer 2

the sentence i understand it like this : people living in different area may not contact with each other , so they formed different thinking. I dont think something like "personal space" will be cultural trait because it gonna be changed through time. The sentence you talk about is just like a fact. So it's a stereotype.
Consider something that can be hard to change by time, it's gonna be a cultural trait. A lot of people doing it and believe in it as if their lifestyle.

Answer 3

yes there can be cultural traits for different cultures living in the same area. i live in a multi cultural society but we still do share common traits among ourselves like people say we have a sing song way in which we speak cultural trait among everyone. howver the differnce between a stereotyp and a cutural trait is that a cultural trait that is only seen in a few but generalized to everyone is a stereotype!

Answer 4

I think that the personal space comment is a cultural trait. Each culture has it's own set of customs, values, modes of conduct.

Answer 5

Yes, like the Haitian people, they never use deodorant which is not stereotypical, it's actually a cultural trait.

Answer 6

To me,a cultural trait is inheirited,thus a race,where as a stereo-
type is an aquired detail,subject to that of behavior...=)

Answer 7

with the aid of fact no person could could "attain out" to their communnity---persons are human beings and that i'm no longer to blame for or could be stereotyped in simple terms with the aid of fact somebody who has the comparable pores and skin shade did some thing. persons are human beings they could make their very own judgements I shouldn't circulate and communicate with somebody in simple terms with the aid of fact i'm of the comparable race of somebody whilst i do no longer even understand them. i prefer to assist my pals and family contributors of all distinctive races, no longer a random stranger in simple terms with the aid of fact he's in my race. and that's what human beings ignore. ____ And what approximately different communities too. I mean persons are actually not stereotyped via means of race. If all human beings reached out to a stranger then that should eat all human beings's existence. I mean there are gender stereotypes, religious stereotypes, and stereotypes interior of each race for specific communities Which team could somebody attain out to whilst human beings fall into many distinctive communities? this is the situation with stereotypes and generalizations It keeps development occasion of many communities: somebody could properly be a Black American woman Christian Athelete Southerner larger classification and so on there are maximum of communities and there are various stereotypes interior of those communities could she circulate and attain out to all those communities? No. it can be a by no ability ending technique. as quickly as she reaches out to all the blacks she has to realize out to women folk, then the Christians, then the individuals, then the Southerners, just to assist them "restoration" the stereotype. with the aid of fact of this it incredibly is stupid to choose somebody via their race