Social stereotypes, Asia, America and Africa
A stereotype is a belief that is common among people or particular groups of people. Stereotypes are based on some assumptions based on people's culture. This figure of the 18th century among the Dutch shows engraved pictures of the people of the World, showing the inhabitants of Asia, America and Africa as savages.According to the culture of any group or community, there is a way how men are expected to act, both in appearance and behavior. Contrary to this, they are not recognized as real men and thus this can negatively affect their relationship with their peers and the whole community at large. The contents of any social stereotypes may be influenced by behavior of the members seeking social identity to fit in a group of people (Neil, Charles and Miles 38).
Common stereotypes emerge due to the exposure to a common environment. In this way, men are forced to act in the same way for them to fit in and relate with each other without any differences. The environment exposes the people to the same stimuli which program them to actin the same manner. In so doing, they can commonly describe phenomena and ways of doing things. Stereotypes can be adopted at any age.
[...] Positive feedbacks can be attributed to personal strengths. Interpretations, either negative or positive, can impact on self-esteem. Positive interpretations raise self-esteem, but, sometimes the affected person is not ready to accept the compliments as recognition of the achievements achieved. Negative interpretations, on the other hand, reduce self-esteem and the blame to this is assigned to other external forces as a way of comforting themselves. Stereotypes can be attached to the performance in a variety of functions and domains. Specific stereotypes are attributed either negatively or positively to certain performances. [...]
[...] (1996). Men and women in interaction: Reconsidering the differences. New York: Oxford University Press. Herek, G. M., & Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian and Gay Issues. (1998). Stigma and sexual orientation: Understanding prejudice against lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. Corrigan, P. W. (2005). On the stigma of mental illness: Practical strategies for research and social change. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. [...]
[...] Self-fulfilling prophesy is an effect of stereotypes. Through social interaction, men are prompted to judge their actions in accordance to what the stereotype expects them to behave. Inaccurate and erroneous behaviors may be comforted and justified on the basis of stereotypes. Surname 5 Failure to be associated with a particular stereotype affects the way men justify their actions. It leaves them with no reference points to base and argue out their actions. The way men and the whole society perceive and treat one another, are influenced by stereotypes and thus dictate social realities. [...]
[...] Stereotypes can be adopted at any age. However, for it to be well acquired fully and integrated in a person, it should be influenced during early stages of development. Parents, peers, the media and teachers have an active role in this. In a case this does not occur at the right time Surname 3 and the person grows without prior knowledge of what the community expects of him, he may face challenges during the later years of development and feel alienated from the rest of the community. [...]
[...] Some roles are natural and cannot be shared. Men who don't recognize their socially constructed roles receive neglect and criticism from their peers. Masculinity, for example, are roles and qualities that the society deems appropriate to a man. Surname 6 Dressing codes are socially constructed and the stereotypes attached to this aspect dictate how a man is supposed to present himself in terms of what he wears. Different clothes are made to be worn by different sexes. A man is not allowed to wear women clothes and vice versa. [...]
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