As far as social constructs go, viewing people with very specific lenses and making their character two-dimensional - seeing them as one wants to - has been an age-old ritual. While there are several words to describe it, it all falls under the umbrella term of ‘Stereotyping’
Stereotyping can simply be said to be oversimplifying an image or the idea of a person and allotting them a name if they cross out enough boxes in a list containing the general traits of the specific stereotype. We see it all around us, whether in the way of defining gender roles or the stereotypes associated with a particular race. In a school environment it is often based on the way pupils interact with peers and teachers and how they choose to spend their free time and so on. Some of these conventional images are thought to be ‘positive stereotypes’ which, by definition, refers to subjectively favourable beliefs held about a social group. However, at the end of the day it all comes to one thing: putting people in a box, giving the box an oversimplified label and expecting them to stay in their respective boxes.
Nothing positive can really come out of stereotyping. As a concept it is all about preventing growth and sticking to conservative views of the world. It also gives rise to false expectations that some may believe they have to live up to - thus lowering oneself to others’ expectations of themself. Besides, stereotyping is a major factor contributing to the prejudice people face from their fellow human beings - being underestimated or being looked over because of certain traits and so on. It reduces a person’s individuality to be nothing more than a checkbox in the stereotype checklist. It is indicative that if a person does one thing, they cannot do the other thing because a person cannot have both those traits. Stereotypes promote the idea that a person must be labeled something in order for their existence to be of meaning.
However, just simply existing is all the meaning that is needed! We, humans, have reasons behind the way we act, tell stories, and convey emotions, hidden beneath deep layers of complexity - but stereotypes fail to acknowledge that. Stereotypes see the world as black and white, and by letting it control our minds we often miss out on the beautiful colours that the universe has to offer. We need to let go of the habit of seeing just the black and white, and open our eyes to the myriad of colours that exist in each of us and bask in the glory of it.
Stereotyping dampens the idea of individuality and stops us from recognizing that all of us are unique
Sources of Information: https://psychologydictionary.org/
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