Stereotypes are overgeneralized beliefs about groups that tend to be simplifications. They are formed due to lack of knowledge about other people and are used to simplify social situations. While stereotypes can help with quick judgments, they ignore individual differences and can be incorrect. The movie "My Name is Khan" shows the disadvantages of stereotyping Muslims after 9/11, as the main character has to travel the US to tell people his name and that he is not a terrorist. Solutions involve open communication, tolerance, and social integration to reduce misconceptions.
2. DEFINITION OF STEREOTYPE
Stereotypes are characteristics ascribed to groups
of people involving gender, race, national origin and
other factors. These characteristics tend to be
oversimplifications of the groups involved.
A stereotype is ...a fixed, over generalized belief
about a particular group or class of people.
(Cardwell, 1996).
3. WHY STEREOTYPES ARE FORMED?
Stereotypes are formed because people really don't
know other people. Usually they are formed based
on misinformation and opinions. That is why
diversity training is important.
4. The use of stereotypes is a major way in which we
simplify our social world; since they reduce the
amount of processing (i.e. thinking) we have to do
when we meet a new person.
5. ADVANTAGES OF STEREOTYPING
Stereotypes can be useful if you are in a new
situation and need to make a quick judgment and
fast decisions.
Stereotyping can be seen as simplifying our
surroundings so they are easier to understand.
Stereotypes enable you to categorize people into
groups, which allows you to form expectations
about people and situations making life more
predictable and easier to understand.
6. DISADVANTAGES OF STEREOTYPING
The downside of using a stereotype to make a
judgment about someone is that it might be
completely misguided and incorrect, causing you to
act differently towards the person which can offend
them.
that it makes us ignore differences between
individuals; therefore we think things about people
that might not be true (i.e. make generalizations).
8. SYNOPSIS MY NAME IS KHAN
Rizvan Khan, a Muslim man from India, moves to
San Francisco and lives with his brother and sister-
in-law. Rizvan, who has Aspergers, falls in love with
Mandira
The Khans' perfect existence gets disrupted,
however, after the September 11 attacks on the twin
towers in New York City. Mark goes to cover the
war in Afghanistan and dies there. At the same
time, the Khan family begins to experience post 9-
11 prejudice in their community and Reese begins
to turn against Sam as well. One afternoon, an
argument between them turns into a racially
motivated schoolyard fight between Sam and a
number of older students.
9. Reese tries to stop the fight but is held back and Sam is
injured so badly that he dies. A shattered Mandira
blames Rizvan for his death stating that Sam "died only
because his name was Khan." She then tells Rizwan
that she no longer wants him in her life. When he asks
her what he has to do to be a part of her life, she tells
him that he has to tell the people of the United States,
and the President that his name is Khan and that he is
not a terrorist.
Rizwan then begins a long journey across the United
States to win Mandira back. In the process of his
journey, he "inspires optimism and joy in the hearts of
the people he encounters by spreading of messages of
goodwill wherever he roams."
10. This movie shows that love knows no boundary,
religion or time. If it takes 10 hurdles to get to where
love is bringing you, you will get through 10 hurdles.
If it takes a Hindu to marry a Muslim to rejoice in
love, it will happen. If it takes six months to get a
chance to tell the President, "My name is Khan and
I am not a terrorist", love will get you there.
This happen because they puts everyone is the
same category and leaves no room for individual
personalities.
11. SOLUTION FOR STEREOTYPING
Solutions to stereotyping eliminating
misconceptions held by people in society by
focusing on open communication and developing
tolerance for understanding differences. It can also
be resolved through social integration where people
can meet minority groups.