Healthy Living Activity: Stereotyping

A stereotype is “a simplified and standardized conception or image, invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group”[1]. For example, saying “tall girls are good at basketball” is an example of a stereotype.  If you ever find yourself casting people in certain roles without thinking about them as individuals first, you might be using a stereotype.  

Movies, TV Shows, and even advertisements might cause you to think in stereotypes.  One example of a stereotype is the “evil stepmother” often portrayed in fairytales. It may very well be the case that a stepmother is a kind-hearted and loving woman and mother.

You shouldn’t want to be a certain way just because someone else thinks you should.  You should not feel pressure to be something you are not. 

Supplies Needed

·         Paper

·         Pens

·         Magazines

·         Glue

·         Scissors

Activity

Brainstorm stereotypes that you may encounter every day and discuss these stereotypes with the other girl’s in your Troop.  What are the characteristics of each stereotype? How are these stereotypes supposed to act and feel?  Are they supposed to have certain jobs, fashion styles, or body features? Write out a description of each stereotype.

Out of your list of stereotypes, pick the one stereotype in which you may be cast as.  Now, using magazines cut out images which prove the stereotype wrong.  Using paper and glue make a collage of these images.   

When your collage is completed, present your collage to the rest of your Troop. 

Discussion:

·         Are all stereotypes true? How so?

·         How would you feel if you were cast under a certain stereotype?

·         Where in your life have you seen people thinking in stereotypes?

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[1] stereotype. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved November 30, 2011, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/stereotype