A stereotype is a very easy and simple idea or opinion of a person, group or thing. Mostly, it is an incorrect judgement, idea or belief many people have about a group that is based upon how they look or behave. It is often reinforced by their race, culture, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
In your groups, watch the video below with interviews from young people that talk about how they’ve been stereotyped in their everyday lives.
Efe Ezekiel 00:00:00:02Stereotypes are everywhere in the media, probably from friendsand family, and as young people you've probably been stereotypedand it's not been true.
Efe Ezekiel 00:00:21:01Now we know that stereotypes can also have a very negative effectfor young people. So we are going to explore that now.
Muhsin 00:00:34:24Some people like to say that stereotypes comes from truth and thatthere's an element of truth to it. But I think that's quite ignorantsometimes. I feel as though everyone is their own person.
Aba 00:00:46:03If it's something to do with gang culture or knife crime it's always 'OK,that person's definitely gonna be Black'.
Fairoz 00:00:50:15Like people equating Islam with terrorism. I've even gotten thatand I'm not, I'm literally just sixteen, and I've still gotten that.
Zedikeiah and Mutawakal 00:00:57:09I think the media kind of portrays young black people morenegatively.
Aba 00:01:01:24People put us in boxes a lot when we're actually very multifaceted.But people look at us like "Oh you should be that person", "Youshould like this type of music", "You should wear this kind ofclothes". But it's like, no, that's not what I do.
Abraz 00:01:15:23I always used to mock myself, and stereotype myself. Be like, youknow, that boss man is my father, or that boss man is my uncle, oryou know, I'd say to my white friends and Black friends I love curryand all this stuff and everything. You know, those sort ofstereotypes I used to say to myself.
Muhsin 00:01:36:04Sometimes we're just doing it just because we want to appeal tothem, but we should never have to make an insult about ourselvesand appeal to that stereotype just to fit in. Or just do, like kinda, fitinto that stereotype.
Abraz 00:01:48:19For me, personally, I don't want that no more. And it all just startswith stereotyping, isn't it? If you understand what I mean.
Muhsin 00:01:56:21When you look at a Muslim, there's so many different types ofMuslims. When you look at Black person there's so many differentBlack people. When you look at an Asian person, there's so manydifferent types of people. Everyone has their own story and it's onlywhen you speak to these people and you have conversations withthem you realise that not everyone fits into that bracket, fits intothat stereotype.
Group discussion
In your groups, discuss the following:
- How would you describe the term ‘stereotype’?
- How do stereotypes work in our society?
- In what ways can stereotypes have a positive or negative impact?
Now you're ready to move on the next video:
4. Racism. video
How does racism impact young people's lives and how can we be 'anti-racist'?
