The Harmful Impact of Stereotypes
This blog is a curation of materials that can be used by social studies teachers to teach about the racial and gender discrimination using positive and negative stereotypes. The center of these materials is Gene Luen Yang’s graphic novel, American Born Chinese.
Big Question: Do Stereotypes Reinforce racial and gender discrimination?
Annotation: This article provides a general definition of the term stereotype, and a brief explaination of racial stereotypes. I have chosen this specific article because it provides a brief overview of what a stereotype without being too complicated. Teachers could use this source as an introduction into the topic of sterotypes. Asking students to use this definition of a sterotype to define it in their own words or even asking them to create a more complex definition of a stereotype based on this definition.
Supporting question: How do you define stereotypes?
Annotation: This is a podcast that discusses some positive aspects of stereotypes. I’ve specifically chosen this podcast to critique dominant narratives about stereotypes because it provides a positive aspect about some stereotypes. Teachers can use this podcast to teach students that even though some stereotypes are presented as positive they still have negative roots. They could ask their students why the stereotype presented in the podcast still has negative qualities.
Supporting question: Why is society accepting of positive stereotypes?
Annotation: This is a short article that discusses the negativity that exist in positive stereotypes. I picked this article because it is in direct contrast with the podcast above. Teachers can would be able to use this article and the podcast above to discuss the negativity that exist in positive stereotypes.
Supporting Question: Are positive stereotypes helpful or hurtful?
Annotation: This is a video clip of artist Ukdus Bakhtiozina discussing a collection of images she created in order to combat stereotypes. I chose this video because she discusses her work and the reasoning behind it, I feel that this short video would be helpful to students who are struggling readers. Teachers can use this video as an introduction into a lesson on how art can be used to represent controversial issues.
Supporting question: How can art be used to deescalate or reinforce stereotypes?
Annotation: This is an image of people holding up signs of common stereotypes assigned to people of their ethnic background. I chose this image because I feel that it is a simple image that sends a powerful message. Teachers can use this image to get students to think about stereotypes that are assigned to their particular ethnic group and how those stereotypes negatively effect them.
Supporting Questions: What are positive stereotypes about your ethnic group?
Annotation: This is a photo gallery that consist of images of people in their real lives and images of the same people as the stereotypes that society perceives them as. I chose this collection because it is a powerful representation of how society places negative stereotypes on people and how impactful those stereotypes can be. Teachers can use these images to ask students to evaluate their own bias. Present students with the image of the negative stereotype and ask them what they think this person does for a living. This activity could be used as a gateway into conversation about the topic.
Supporting question: How do we reinforce stereotypes without using words?
Annotation: This is a photo gallery of images with the “I’m Tired” title that proceeds a stereotype that the person has become tired of. I chose this photo series because it is probably something students have seen before because it is a viral movement on social media mediums such as Facebook and Twitter. Teachers may use this movement to show students that though some people think certain stereotypes no longer exist they are in fact still very much alive.
Supporting question: How can social media contribute to the spreading of stereotypes?
Annotation: These are images accompanied by a small article about Arab men attempting to defy gender stereotypes about men and women. I chose this because it represents stereotypes in different parts of the world, and it is important to know that even though we are separated by oceans and boarders there are universal problems that effect everyone. Teachers can use these images to unpack existing stereotypes about men and women that are present in today’s society.
Supporting question: Do gender stereotypes have some truth to them?
Annotation: This is a video clip of a minstrel show, a common form of entertainment until the 20th century. I picked this video because it is an example of an historic stereotype and though some might find it outrageous the stereotypes present are often associated with African Americans today. Teachers can use this video to develop their students historical thinking about stereotypes and the role they play in reinforcing race discrimination.
Supporting question: What can history teach us about the present?
Annotation: This is a podcast about how stereotypes effect women and young girls. I chose this podcast to go along with the quote above to create a stronger lesson centered around negative stereotypes that specifically impact school aged students. Teachers can use this podcast to develop a summative assessment where students create a video or audio post where they discuss how a negative stereotypes have impacted them in school settings and measures they take to overcome them.
Supporting Question: Do school officials play a role in reinforcing negative stereotypes?
