What is the meaning of Stereotypes

When we believe that people belonging to particular groups based on religion, wealth, language etc. are bound to have certain fixed characteristics or can only do a certain type of work, we create a stereotype. For example, we see how boys and girls are made to take certain subjects not because of their aptitude but only because they are either boys or girls. Stereotypes prevent us from looking at people as unique individuals.

Stereotyping is setting an image about people or things based on certain characteristics or their membership to a particular group. Stereotyping is harmful for the individual and society for the following reasons:

1. We set an image of people belonging to one community and then pass on this impression to others. Thus, this establishes an unbroken chain of unestablished form of lies.

2. This image gets fixed and we start to recognise that group based on the set image. This stops us from appreciating the individual qualities.