Language Stereotypes

Have you ever wondered why we use certain language to refer to specific groups of people? Why do we often judge people before we really get to know them? We will be exploring the use of stereotypical language and how it affects the representation of groups of people in society. We will begin with a definition of stereotypical language and consider why we use stereotypes. Furthermore, we will also look at some examples of different types of stereotypes. Lastly, we will explore how stereotyping language is used in the media and why it could be problematic.

Stereotypical language definition

Stereotypical language refers to:

Stereotypes are formed through our observations of others in daily life, which is then reflected in the language we use to refer to specific groups of people in society.

Reasons for using stereotypes

According to psychologist Henri Tajfel (1981)¹, stereotypes can be used to make generalised assumptions about groups of people to simplify the world around us. Stereotypes can be true in some cases, but most of the time, they are not. It is important to be aware that stereotypes are often not accurate representations of groups of people; they are based on broad expectations and should not be taken as complete facts. Stereotyping groups of people can be harmful to the representation of individuals, as it can simplify the differences between people and undermine someone’s uniqueness.

Language stereotypes examples

There are different types of stereotyping in the English language. This includes cultural, social, racial, gender and religious stereotypes.

Let's take a look at the different types of stereotypes in more detail:

Cultural stereotypes

This refers to broad generalisations of people from different cultures in different countries. For example:

• British people have a ‘stiff upper lip’ (don't show much emotion) and drink tea a lot.

• Americans are loud and patriotic.

• All Chinese people know martial arts.

• French people wear berets and stripy shirts (and hold baguettes!)

Fig. 1 - Stereotypes can be based on many social factors including nationality, gender, and race.

Social stereotypes

This refers to the preconceived ideas of people in different social groups, which includes: age, class, skill etc. Examples include:

• Teenagers are irresponsible.

• Upper-class people are posh and 'stuck up'.

• Lower-class people are lazy and not as smart.

Racial stereotypes

This refers to the assumed characteristics of a particular race. These are often considered to be the most negative, as they can lead to bias and discrimination, harmfully representing certain races. Some less offensive examples include:

• Black people are athletic and tall.

• Asians are good at maths.

• Hispanic people are lazy.

Gender stereotypes

This refers to the assumptions made about the characteristics of different genders. They can frequently lead to an unfair bias towards a particular gender. They are also used to compare the way people should behave based on their genders. Because of this, certain genders may face discrimination or inequality due to how they are perceived by others.

Examples of male gender stereotypes are:

• Men don't talk about their feelings.

• Men are stronger than women.

• Men are smarter than women.

• Men who are not assertive are 'unmanly'.

Fig. 2 - Gender stereotypes can negatively affect both men and women.

Examples of female gender stereotypes are:

• Women are overly emotional and sensitive.

• Women are weaker than men.

• Women are not as smart as men.

• Women gossip a lot.

Religious stereotypes

This refers to preconceived beliefs of particular people in different religions. They are often used to discriminate against certain religions, which can cause conflict between different religious groups and portray religions in a negative light. They also negatively affect the perception of religious individuals; instead of highlighting the extreme acts of a few people, religious stereotypes make generalisations which lead to people assuming that entire religious groups are capable of such things. Examples include:

• Muslims are terrorists.

• Christians are overly judgmental.

• Jews are greedy.

Stereotyping language used in media

The media (television, internet, radio, books, etc.) contributes to the perpetuation of stereotypes of different groups of people. But why do they continue to do so? The use of stereotypes in the media is an effective way to present a simplified view of a person/group of people which is easy for the audience to understand. These stereotypes can refer to someone’s gender, sexual orientation, class, job, ethnicity or race, etc.

People in positions of power, such as media moguls, often portray a certain image of others for their own gain. For example, the public being persuaded that the money from taxpayers is being used to help refugees, when this may not actually be the case.

Language stereotyping analysis

Here are a few reasons why the use of stereotypes in the media could be problematic:

Lack of individuality

Although generalising groups of people can make it easier for others to understand, typically it does not accurately represent who they are and how complex individuals are in reality. As a result, putting certain people into a box excludes others who do not fit in. This could persuade people into believing that they should look or behave in a certain way to fit the stereotype. However, this could take away from someone’s individuality and add pressure onto their expectations of how to be. Instead of celebrating people's differences, stereotyping can negatively affect the portrayal of individuals because of social prejudice and assumptions of certain people.

Negative representation and unfair bias

The media is responsible for mass communication and is a powerful tool for spreading information to audiences around the world. This places the media on a pedestal, as they hold authority over the general public. However, this often leads to the general public having little say in how different things are represented. As a result, this could lead to biases towards certain groups of people and the unfair treatment of others based solely on what the media shows, rather than what is true. This places prejudiced views on certain people that are beyond their control, harming their reputations and how they are perceived by others.

Manipulation of the truth

Expanding on the power of the media, it can also persuade the public of things that are not true, leading the public to believe that assumptions are facts. Stereotypes can be used by the media as a way to defend statements that are made, and often to place blame on certain groups of people. It is important to be aware of different stereotypes before placing judgements on people, as they can lead to the misconception of others and are often not true.

Gender stereotyping in the English language

Let's take the following example:

'Boys don't cry'

This is an example of a gender stereotype. So, how does it present ideas about gender?

The stereotype implies that boys are unable to express their emotions. It promotes the traditional idea in society that boys who don't cry are seen as stronger than girls who, unlike boys, are perceived to be overly emotional.

How could this stereotype affect boys?

This can be harmful as it negatively represents masculinity and the expectations of what it means to be a man in society. As a result, boys who are emotional and do not fit the stereotype may feel as though they are not masculine or strong enough. This could put pressure on them to prove to others that they are stereotypical boys, which could negatively impact the perception of themselves and encourage toxic masculinity.