stereotypes

Oversimplified group portraits

Stereotypes are oversimplified, widely held beliefs about a particular group of people based on characteristics like race, gender, nationality, or profession.

They reduce individuals to a set of assumed traits: the stereotype of the absent-minded professor, racial stereotypes in old movies.

As a verb, to stereotype someone is to view or represent them according to such fixed notions rather than as an individual.

The word originally referred to a printing plate that produced identical copies, which informs the modern sense of producing uniform, unvarying impressions of people.

labeling

branding

Creating distinctive identity

taggingAttaching identifying markers
categorizationArranging into groups
classificationSystematic grouping by traits

pigeonholing · typecasting · name-calling · epithet · slur · stigmatization · othering · marginalization · designation · in-group

generalization

overgeneralization

Unwarranted broad application

oversimplificationStripping complexity unfairly
categorizationArranging into groups
typecastingAssigning actors similar roles

pigeonholing · profiling · homogenization · reductionism · essentialism · assumption · preconception · presumption · heuristic · broad-brush

caricature

exaggeration

Overstating beyond reality

distortionTwisting from original state
mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
parodySatirical imitation

satire · lampoon · cartoon · grotesque · hyperbole · misrepresentation · one-dimensional · trope · archetype · token

bias

prejudice

Preformed unfavorable opinion

discriminationUnjust differential treatment
bigotryIntolerance toward differing views
racismPrejudice based on ethnicity

sexism · ageism · homophobia · xenophobia · misogyny · ableism · classism · chauvinism · ethnocentrism · sectarianism

cliché

trope

Recurring narrative device

stockGoods kept for sale
hackneyedOverused and unoriginal
tiredLacking energy, needing rest

overused · predictable · formulaic · trite · banal · worn-out · stale · unoriginal · conventional · cookie-cutter

Categories

Assumptionsfalse assumption, generalizations, biases, prejudices, expectations
social pressurepeer pressure, conformity, expectations, fitting in, social acceptance
disabilitydisability rights, disability culture, disability activism, disability services, disability identity
biasprejudice, racism, bigotry, sexism, ageism
Irish AmericanaIrish diaspora, Irish heritage, Irish identity, Irish traditions, Irish Catholic
LGBTQ discriminationhomophobia, transphobia, biphobia, hate crimes, prejudice

Opposites

cognitive accuracy

stereotypesopen-mindedness

Acceptance of differing viewpoints

objectivity · impartiality · fair-mindedness · critical thinking · receptivity

specificity

stereotypesindividual differences

Unique traits among people

individuality · particulars · differences · heterogeneity · particularities

representational approach

stereotypessubversions

Acts that undermine authority

Phrases

racial stereotypeOversimplified belief about groups
gender stereotypesAssumed traits per sex
gender stereotypingAttributing traits based on sex
cultural stereotypeOversimplified belief about groups
ethnic stereotypesOversimplified beliefs about groups
media stereotypesOversimplified group portrayals in broadcasting

Family

stereotype, stereotyped, stereotypical, stereotyping, stereotypically, stereotypic

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG