What is stereotyping and labelling?

Assessment

In your Assessment at the end of this Unit, you will be asked to:

Describe what is meant by ‘equality’ and also define the following terms:

  • Explain why some people stereotype others

This will help you satisfy assessment criterion 3.1 for this Unit. You’ll find lots of useful information over the following pages to help you complete this part of your Assessment.

Click on the buttons below to see definitions of stereotyping and labelling.

Stereotyping

A stereotype is a fixed, general idea about a group of people with a shared characteristic. When stereotyping occurs, it is assumed that all of the people in a particular group have certain qualities or characteristics. For example, someone may stereotype women as being weak…when in fact this is not the case at all!

Labelling

When a person is identified as belonging to a certain group, they may be labelled based on any stereotypes relating to that group. For example, someone may be labelled according to their religious beliefs, their race, their gender, their level of education and so on.

As you learned in Session 1, people in the UK are very diverse and they can have a wide range of qualities and characteristics.

Although a person can have lots of different qualities and characteristics, sometimes other people may focus on only one or two specific characteristics and use this to form an opinion about that person. For example, people may form opinions based on a person’s age, race, sexual orientation, etc.

When people are viewed or judged based on only one or two characteristics, stereotyping and labelling may occur.

Click through the slide panel below to read some examples.

  • Examples

    Here are some examples of stereotypes:

    • Scottish people are mean with money
    • Women are not as strong as men
    • Teenagers who wear hoodies are trouble makers
    • Only girls can go to dance classes
    • Only boys can play football
    • Older people don’t know how to use technology

  • The impact of these stereotypes

    When these stereotypes and labels are created and applied, they can have a powerful influence on people.

    If the stereotype is applied often enough, then the person may begin to believe the label they are being given and they will act in that way.

    The stereotype labels an entire group and it means that a very general view is applied to everyone in the group. No attempt is made to appreciate each unique person... they are simply labelled and stereotyped.