Line #44 Main/Stereotype


1	->''"The problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete."''
2	-->-- '''Creator/ChimamandaNgoziAdichie'''
3
4	Whenever you see, hear, or taste something, you can only tell so much about it based on what you sensed. This often isn't enough, so we make assumptions about what the rest of the thing is like -- when people hear "bird", they probably think of something that is fist-sized, flies, and sings, even though none of these things are true about every single bird. See [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prototype_theory prototype theory]].
5
6	When a set of such assumptions about something becomes CommonKnowledge, it forms a stereotype. Most of the time, nobody notices, as in the case of birds. This is very useful when you're writing fiction, because [[TheLawOfConservationOfDetail it lets you save a lot of space and time that you'd otherwise have to spend describing something in detail, when it isn't really important to your story]].
7
8	The term refers back to older printing presses. When each letter had to be individually set, a common phrase would often be cast as a single block piece called a ''{{Cliche}}'' (after the sound it made); the blocks were also called ''stereotypes''. Such ease of use ended up with authors over-utilizing them to save on costs. The term came to mean the readily available phrase itself before broadening to include any overused element.
9
10	Stereotypes ''at their very best'' are a small grain of truth about some people in some groups that are most often taken from SmallReferencePools (and very rarely from generalities drawn from group norms as observed by outsiders), and then erroneously applied to ''everyone in the group/people/culture/ethnicity/etc,'' never mind that cultures have a wide variety of differences, and individual people within them can be even more varied, and even ''at that very best'' are often ''still'' [[TokenMinority tokenization]] (even [[FlawlessToken when "positive"]]), fetishization, or objectification.
11
12	At their ''worst,'' they are entirely and inherently reliant on UnfortunateImplications, the definition of the PropagandaPiece and even precursors to genocide via the route of {{demonization}} and dehumanization.
13
14	A {{Trope}} is a stereotype that writers find useful in communicating with readers. Some stereotypes that originally developed outside of fiction lend themselves readily to use as tropes, and some tropes turn into stereotypes outside of fiction. Some such tropes are:
15	----
16	!!Tropes:
17	[[index]]
18	[floatboxright:
19	'''Categories:'''
20	+ AcceptableTargets
21	++ DoubleStandard
22	++ TheWarOnStraw
23	+ AnimalStereotypes
24	+ CulturalStereotypes
25	++ NationalStereotypes
26	+++ AccentTropes
27	+++ HollywoodAtlas
28	++ RaceTropes
29	+++ EvilRaceTropes
30	+++ PhenotypeStereotype
31	+++ PositiveStereotypeTropes
32	++ ReligionTropes
33	+++ ReligiousStereotype
34	++ {{UsefulNotes/Subcultures}}
35	+++ HobbyAndPastimeTropes
36	+ DisabilityTropes
37	+ EvilOnlyByAssociation
38	+ GenderAndSexualityTropes
39	++ AlwaysFemale
40	+++ FemininityTropes
41	+++ WomenAreDelicate
42	++ AlwaysMale
43	+++ MasculinityTropes
44	+++ MenAreTough
45	++ GenderDynamicsIndex
46	++ QueerAsTropes
47	+++ BisexualityTropes
48	+++ GenderBlendingTropes
49	+++ HomophobiaIndex
50	+++ TransgenderTropes
51	+ MagicalMinorityPerson
52	+ OccupationTropes
53	+ TokenIndex
54	]
55	* AfricaIsACountry: The belief that the entire continent of Africa is just like one large country that is culturally homogeneous.
56	* AlbinosAreFreaks: The stereotype that people with albinism are weird.
57	* AllAmazonsWantHercules
58	* AllAnimeIsNaughtyTentacles: The stereotype that anime is only about women getting raped by tentacled creatures.
59	* AllGaysArePedophiles: The belief that gay men are willing to satisfy their sexual urges by molesting younger boys.
60	* AllGaysArePromiscuous: The stereotype that a gay man will want to have sex with everyone who is male.
61	* AllGaysLoveTheater: The stereotype that gay men enjoy and are well-informed about musical theater.
62	* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: The stereotype that women are only attracted to rude and rebellious men.
63	* AllGirlsLikePonies: The stereotype that girls like horses.
64	* AllGuysWantCheerleaders
65	* AllGuysWantSororityWomen
66	* AllJewsAreAshkenazi: The stereotype that all Jews are ethnic Ashkenazis from Central/Eastern Europe.
67	* AllMenArePerverts: The stereotype that men are all only interested in sex.
68	* AllMuslimsAreArab: The stereotype that all Muslims are ethnic Arabs or speak Arabic.
69	* AllStereotypeCast: All of the characters in the story fit into some sort of social stereotype.
70	* AllWomenAreLustful: The stereotype that all women are horny as hell.
71	* AllWomenArePrudes: The stereotype that all women would be disgusted by sex and put off by men's interest in them.
72	* AllWomenHateEachOther: Women either openly or secretly dislike each other, even when they are supposed to be friends.
73	* AllWomenLoveShoes
74	* {{Animeland}}: Stereotypes of Japanese culture based on what Western fans of {{anime}} and {{manga}} have seen.
75	* AntiIntellectualism: Negative stereotypes about educated or intelligent people.
76	* AsianHookerStereotype
77	* AsianSpeekeeEngrish: East Asians are often depicted speaking English very poorly.
78	* BeliefMakesYouStupid: The stereotype that people with religious beliefs are all gullible idiots who lack common sense.
79	* BlackGalOnWhiteGuyDrama
80	* BlackIsBiggerInBed: The stereotype that black men have huge penises.
81	* BlackJezebelStereotype: The stereotype that black women are inherently more sexual than other races.
82	* BondageIsBad: People who are into {{UsefulNotes/BDSM}} or similar sexual fetishes are depraved.
83	* ButchLesbian: Lesbians in fiction are very often presented as [[{{Tomboy}} masculine and "unladylike"]], often to the point of [[BrawnHilda being seen as unsightlly or ugly]]. Polar opposite of the LipstickLesbian stereotype; which one a work goes with usually depends on what message the author wants to send.
84	* CampGay: Gay men are often presented as [[InTouchWithHisFeminineSide feminine and "unmanly"]] often to the point of being seen as flamboyant.
85	* ClarkesLawForGirlsToys
86	* DadsCantCook: The stereotype that fathers don't know how to cook food.
87	* DepravedBisexual: People who are attracted to both men and women are shown as being weird and immoral.
88	* DepravedHomosexual: The belief that gay men are willing to resort to satisfying their lust by raping straight men.
89	* DevelopingNationsLackCities: There are no big cities in the poor third world.
90	* DisabledMeansHelpless: It's assumed that people with disabilities always need assistance from people who aren't disabled.
91	* DumbBlonde: Attractive blonde women are often [[BrainlessBeauty stupid bimbos]] in comedies.
92	* ElementalPersonalities: Personality types stereotypically associated with certain elements and their users.
93	* EqualOpportunityOffender: Making fun of stereotypes about ''everybody''.
94	* EthnicScrappy: A character who is [[invoked]][[TheScrappy despised]] for being an offensive racial stereotype.
95	* EveryoneHatesMimes: Mimes are depicted as being universally despised by everyone.
96	* EvilLawyerJoke: Comedy based on stereotyping lawyers as wicked.
97	* FeminineWomenCanCook: Girly girls really know their way around the kitchen.
98	* FetishesAreWeird: People with fetishes are often weird or creepy.
99	* GenderNonconformingEqualsGay: Not "normal" for your gender identity? You must be gay (or not-straight).
100	* GothGirlsKnowMagic
101	* HalfWittedHillbilly: People from rural areas are commonly portrayed as stupid hicks.
102	* HollywoodAtheist: The stereotype that atheists either lost their faith because they determined the suffering and injustice they and/or others endure is evidence that God can't exist; or they are close-minded jerks to people with religious beliefs.
103	* HollywoodAutism: Common stereotypes of autistic people (such as all of them being [[DitzyGenius idiot]] [[GeniusDitz savants]] who are [[CripplingOverspecialization skilled at one particular talent at the expense of any other ability]]).
104	* ImprovComedyIsInane: Improv comedy shows are depicted as full of [[SmallNameBigEgo egotistical amateur actors]] who can never actually pull off a funny routine.
105	* InsaneEqualsViolent: Mental illness = crazy.
106	* IntimacyViaHorror
107	* JerksUseBodySpray: (Over)use of body spray is a sign of a guy being a douchebag.
108	* LipstickLesbian: Lesbians in fiction are very often presented as [[GirlyGirl beautiful and feminine]] by conventional standards. Polar opposite of the ButchLesbian stereotype; which one a work goes with usually depends on what message the author wants to send.
109	* LowerClassLout: Working-class people are evil.
110	* AManIsAlwaysEager: The stereotype that when a man is in an opportunity for sexual intercourse, he will gladly take the chance without thought.
111	* MenAreStrongWomenArePretty
112	* MenBuyFromMarsWomenBuyFromVenus
113	* MenDontCry: Men aren't supposed to express their sadness openly, or else they're seen as being pussies.
114	* MenLikeDogsWomenLikeCats
115	* MenUseViolenceWomenUseCommunication
116	* MightyWhiteyAndMellowYellow: White men who have a preference for East Asian women.
117	* MisaimedStereotyping: A stereotype is (mistakenly) invoked against a different group that isn't usually associated with that stereotype.
118	* ModernMinstrelsy
119	* MyGirlIsNotASlut: A male character expects his female love interest to be monogamous while no such demand is made of him.
120	* NationalAnimalStereotypes: NationalStereotypes and AnimalStereotypes combined.
121	* NobleSavage: All indigenous people blindly worship nature are more more innocent.
122	* NoGuyWantsToBeChased
123	* NoLoveForTheWicked: People who don't have romantic or sexual attraction are sociopathic or morally broken.
124	* {{Orientalism}}: Western stereotypes about the Eastern world.
125	* OverlyStereotypicalDisguise: Someone tries to pose as a member of a specific group, but relies too much on (often inaccurate) stereotypes.
126	* PersonalityPowers: Personality stereotypes corresponding to superpowers.
127	** PowerStereotypeFlip: Intentional inversions or subversions about personality traits of superpowered characters.
128	* PlayingUpTheStereotype: A character pretends to have traits stereotyped of their group.
129	* TheSavageIndian: Native Americans are stereotyped as primitive barbarians who are ruthless towards their enemies.
130	* SinisterSororitySisters: Sororities are full of bitchy cruel girls.
131	* SmallTownTyrant: Rural people are evil.
132	* SourPrudes
133	* Standard50sFather
134	* StereotypeFlip: Intentional inversions or subversions of common stereotypes.
135	* StereotypeReactionGag: Someone acts offended when another person invokes a stereotype about them, [[HypocriticalHumor before confirming it themselves]].
136	* StereotypicalSouthAsianEnglish: The dialect of English spoken in India and other South Asian countries is not realistically portrayed in Western media.
137	* StopBeingStereotypical: Wishing that other members of your group would stop acting like walking cliches.
138	* StrawFeminist: Feminists are stereotyped as being misandrists who see no wrong in degrading, insulting or harming anyone who is male.
139	* StrawMisogynist
140	* TeensLoveShopping: Teenagers (especially girls) enjoy partaking in consumerism.
141	* TransEqualsGay
142	* TransEqualsHypersexual: Transgender or gender-nonconforming characters are depicted as having an ExtremeLibido, no sexual boundaries, [[FetishesAreWeird bizarre kinks]], or otherwise over-the-top sexual proclivities.
143	* TrashyTrailerHome: Trailers are horrible, and/or the people living in them are.
144	* UnexpectedVirgin
145	* TheUnfairSex
146	* VirginShaming: It's believed that a man isn't a real man if he hasn't lost his virginity yet.
147	* WhereDaWhiteWomenAt: Black men who have a preference for Caucasian women.
148	* WomanlinessAsPathos: Women inherently cause drama or intense feelings.
149	* WomenPreferStrongMen
150	[[/index]]

Context Main / Stereotype