More than likely you'd disagree that all of the qualities commonly attributed to those of your gender, racial group, sexual orientation or nation of origin describe you. This came about not because of any inherent talent in these fields but because they were the professions that allowed them to survive. Such discrepancies indicate that stereotypes make little sense and aren't useful tools by which to judge others. In short, when one stereotypes, one repeats the cultural mythology already present in a particular society. Perhaps a society barred a group of people from practicing certain professions but welcomed them in others. Even stereotypes applied to a racial group become inconsistent when members of that group are broken down by national origin. Over the years, members of the group became associated with the professions they were actually allowed to practice. These stereotypes are so well-known that the average American wouldn't hesitate if asked to identify which racial group in this country has a reputation for excelling in basketball. Simply put, stereotypes are characteristics imposed upon groups of people because of their race, nationality and sexual orientation, among others. Say a woman encounters individuals from a particular ethnic group and finds them to be excellent cooks. Certain stereotypes apply to Asian-Americans generally, but when the Asian-American population is broken down by sex, one finds that stereotypes of Asian-American men and Asian-American women differ. Say a woman encounters individuals from a particular ethnic group and finds them to be excellent cooks. The problem with stereotypes is that they suggest that groups of people are inherently prone to certain behaviors. Because his teacher buys into the stereotype that this child is supposed to excel in class because his people are so smart, she might assume that his poor marks are because he's lazy and never do the investigative work needed to discover his learning disability, saving him from years of struggle in school. It's oft said that stereotypes are rooted in truth, but is this a valid statement?