Generalizations: Stereotyping & Cliques
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
Sometimes fitting in and being accepted means finding the group of friends that you are most comfortable with. Wanting to be around those who share similar interests and values is normal, but it does not change the fact that we are individuals. Even though it is a fact that no two people are alike, there are those who form opinions and make statements about others that make it appear that specific groups of people are alike in certain ways. These statements are called generalizations and they are usually nothing more than someone’s opinion that is made to sound like a fact.
Generalizations are usually inaccurate and unfair. Here are some examples of common generalizations:
- Blondes are dumb, silly or dizzy.
- Athletes are dumb jocks
- Smart or studious people are geeks.
Needless to say, these statements are untrue. They are also cruel and are meant to hurt and devalue. In addition to this, generalizations can lead to labeling and stereotyping. A label is a word or phrase that is used in place of the name of a person or thing. Jocks, geeks, nerds and thugs are examples of labels that are frequently used to describe people who look or act in a certain way. You are already familiar with the negative effects of stereotyping others. Did you know that because of generalizations, people within your own culture are stereolyzed? Some common examples of stereotypes are all tall, black young men like basketball or that girls are not as smart as boys. How do you think stereotyping and labeling others would affect your ability to interact and communicate? If you believe a generalization about someone, will you be more or less likely to get to know that person?
These questions help us to realize the dangers of generalizations, stereotyping and labeling. If we believe these unfair and cruel ideas about others, it will negatively affect the way in which we relate and the effort we are willing to put forth in getting to know them. Generalizations create barriers to getting to know people for the unique individuals they are.
People tend to automatically identify with those who share the same hobbies and interests. For example, someone who is a cheerleader is more likely to make friends with others who are also cheerleaders because they practice together and have a common bond. However, if you exclude others from your circle of friends because they are not cheerleaders, then you are well on your way to forming what are called cliques.
Cliques can also pose barriers to developing friendships. They can be exclusive and unaccepting of those who are different or do not fit a particular mold. Cliques encourage conformity, because you must be willing to change your way of thinking and behaving in order to fit in and be accepted by other members of the clique.
Source: The Peaceful Solution Character Education Program