The damaging effects of stereotyping and labelling

Assessment

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

  • Describe the damaging effects stereotyping and labelling can have on individuals

This will help you satisfy assessment criterion 3.2 for this Unit. You’ll find lots of useful information on this page to help you complete this part of your Assessment.

As you learned on the previous page, stereotyping and labelling can help us to initially make sense of the word and to fit in with others. However, there can also be many negative consequences if we continue to apply stereotypes and labels over time.

Think first

Stereotyping and labelling can have many damaging effects. Can you think of any examples? Type some ideas into the box below before you move on.

Now click through the slide panel below to learn more about the damaging effects of stereotyping and labelling.

  • Anger and frustration

    When people feel that they are being judged incorrectly or unfairly, they may feel angry and react badly in certain situations. They can be frustrated because people are ignorantly making incorrect assumptions about them and not respecting them as an individual. They may also feel powerless to do anything about the situation.

  • Accepting negative labels

    If stereotypes and negative labels are applied often enough, then a person may accept the stereotypes and believe the labels they are being given and then begin to act in that way.

    For example, if women believe that they cannot work in a senior management role, then they will not try and do so. If people around them share this view then little will be done to encourage women to apply for these jobs. The results of accepting this negative label include:

    • Talented women missing out on opportunities in the workplace
    • Businesses missing out on having talented women working in senior positions
    • The view that women do not work in senior management is reinforced

  • Conflict

    If people hold strong negative stereotypes about others, this can lead to conflict (verbal and/or physical). When stereotypes exist, it becomes very difficult to resolve differences in a sensible or logical way. Instead, people will find it difficult to cooperate with each other and this can lead to insults and even violence.

  • Assumed association

    This is when a person or a group of people are stereotyped or punished because of historical events or because they are assumed to be associated with particular acts. For example:

    • Modern German people being stereotyped and discriminated against because of actions carried out by Nazis in the Second World War
    • The assumption that all Muslims are terrorists

  • Discrimination and exploitation

    The use of stereotypes can lead to discrimination taking place. For example, if someone holds the stereotype that men are more intelligent than women, they may then discriminate against women in certain situations (and treat men more favourably).

    Exploitation occurs when a weaker person (or group of people) is taken advantage of for the benefit of others. By continuing to hold stereotypes against a person or group of people and labelling them in this way, the person holding the stereotype takes power away from the people they are stereotyping (for example, by taking away certain rights that they have, refusing them access to certain things, etc). This can then leave them feeling weak and disempowered, and also vulnerable to exploitation.