STEREOTYPES AND GENERALIZATIONS

Celia Priegel

STEREOTYPESStereotypes are rigid simplistic and erroneous views of a particular group of people.

STEREOTYPE EXAMPLE

An example of a stereotype would be a student saying that all teachers are mean because he or she had a mean teacher. This is a stereotype against the particular group teachers.

GENERALIZATIONA generalization is a phenomenon in which a person learns a response to a particular stimulus and then makes the same response to a similar stimulus.

GENERALIZATION EXAMPLE

An example of a generalization that we talked about in class was the Korean War veteran. The veteran was shopping and the shelf fell over making a loud booming noise. The veteran admittedly hit the floor and covered himself for protection. The loud crashing noise reminded him of bombs going off when he was in the war. This is a generalization because he made the stimulus of any loud noise relate to the bombs in Korea and responded how he would if he were still in Korea.

IN THE CLASSROOM

Gender Culture/ Race Socioeconomic Status

GENDER

Even at a very young age children express that others can not play with certain toys or in a certain area of the classroom because of their gender. Boys: Trucks

Girls: DollsBoys: FirefightersGirls: TeachersBoys: PantsGirls: DressesBoys: BlueGirls: Pink

Teachers should explain to children that it is not okay to make assumptions about people by looking at their gender. Explain that every child should be treated as an equal and that every child can play in each area of the classroom no matter what gender they are.

CULTURE/ RACE

Can be positive or negative. Predetermined thoughts come from parents and views that are shown

at home. Negative stereotypes and generalizations are often made against a

minority for a person that is not often exposed to other cultures. Diversity Unit

Guest Speakers Books/ folk tales/ native poems Ethnic Foods Traditions/ Holidays People are equal no matter what race or ethnicity

SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS Young children not aware of actual money values but are aware of:

Clothing Materials

Each child get to know one another Seating arrangements Groups Partners About Me Posters

Children should be taught to value who a person is not what a person has.