Stereotyping

Voices
Nicole as Jenny

Salli as Sarah

Summary
Jenny talks to Sarah about stereotypes.

Transcript
Jenny: Sarah, there's something I have to tell you.

Sarah: What is it, Jenny?

Jenny: You know how you're always writing stories about princesses getting kidnapped by a villain and getting rescued by a cute anthropomorphic animal?

Sarah: Yeah? What about them?

Jenny: Well, I think that those stories are becoming too cliche.

Sarah: Really? Why?

Jenny: Because you've been using the concept of a princess getting kidnapped over and over again. Not every princess can be a damsel in distress.

Sarah: They can't?

Jenny: No, they can't.

Sarah: Why not?

Jenny: Because that's stereotyping. Do you know what stereotypes are?

Sarah: Um, no. Tell me.

Jenny: A stereotype is a thought that can be adopted about specific types of individuals or certain ways of doing things. These thoughts or beliefs may or may not accurately reflect reality. However, this is only a fundamental psychological definition of a stereotype. Within psychology and spanning across other disciplines, there are different conceptualizations and theories of stereotyping that provide their own expanded definition. Some of these definitions share commonalities, though each one may also harbor unique aspects that may contradict the others. For example, police officers buying doughnuts and coffee is perceived stereotypical behavior in North America. Some people say that mostly boys play video games, which exemplifies a common stereotype that video games are predominantly made for and played by boys.

Sarah: But, I play video games, too! I don't think video games were made for only boys to play. Girls can like video games, too.

Sarah: So, the princesses in distress that I write about are cliched stereotypes?

Jenny: They are, Sarah. Not all princesses can be damsels in distress. That gives a bad example on the portrayal of women. If a princess gets kidnapped by a villain and then waits for a hero to rescue her, then that makes her seem very weak.