Just what is a stereotype? Simply put, stereotypes are characteristics ###### upon groups of people because ###### their race, culture, nationality, religion ###### sexual orientation, among others. These ###### tend to be oversimplifications of ###### groups involved.

For example, someone ###### meets a few individuals from ###### particular country might find them ###### be quiet and reserved. The ###### might then spread the word ###### all citizens from that country ###### quiet and reserved as well.

###### generalization such as this doesn't ###### diversity within groups because it ###### that all people in the ###### are the same.]]>
Stereotypes Vs. Generalizations

###### stereotypes are generalizations, but not ###### generalizations are stereotypes. Stereotypes are ###### spread oversimplifications of groups of ######.]]>
On the ###### hand, a person can make ###### generalization about an ethnic group ###### hasn't been perpetuated in society. ###### a woman encounters individuals from ###### particular ethnic group and finds ###### to be excellent cooks. She ###### oversimplify and conclude that anyone ###### this ethnic group must be ###### excellent cook.]]>
They Can Be Complicated

Stereotypes may refer to a ###### sex, race, religion or country, ###### they often link various aspects ###### identity together. This is known ###### intersectionality. A stereotype about black ###### men, for example, would involve ######, sex and sexual orientation.]]>
Stereotypes are also ###### because, when they factor in ###### and sex, members of the ###### group may be pegged very ######. Certain stereotypes apply to Asian-Americans ######, but the Asian-American population can ###### be broken down by sex. ###### finds that stereotypes of Asian-American ###### and Asian-American women differ.]]>
Even stereotypes applied to ###### racial group become inconsistent when ###### of that group are broken ###### by national origin. Stereotypes about ###### differ from those about black ###### from the Caribbean or from ###### nations.

Can They Ever Be Good?

Both negative and positive ###### exist, but even so-called positive ###### do harm. That's because all ###### are limiting and leave little ###### no room for individuality. Perhaps ###### child belongs to a racial ###### that people believe are highly ######, but that child happens to ###### from a learning disability.]]>
Is There Truth In Stereotypes?

It's often said that ###### are rooted in truth, but ###### is not a valid statement. ###### who make this argument often ###### to justify their use of ######. The problem with stereotypes is ###### they suggest that groups of ###### are inherently prone to certain ######. People may think that Arabs ###### "naturally" one way and that ###### are "naturally" another.]]>
###### a society barred a group ###### people from practicing certain professions ###### welcomed them in others. Over ###### years, members of the group ###### associated with the professions they ###### actually allowed to practice. This ###### not come about because they ###### the only ones with a ###### talent in these fields, but ###### these were the professions that ###### them to survive. Those who ###### stereotypes ignore social factors.]]>
###### next time you're tempted to ###### a group of people, think ###### the groups to which you ######. List the stereotypes linked to ###### groups. Does each of those stereotypes apply to you? More than likely you'd ###### that all of the qualities ###### attributed to those of your ######, racial group, sexual orientation or ###### of origin describe you. That ###### why it's important to judge ###### individuals rather than the groups ###### which they're part.]]>