stereotype

Everyday

1. A stereotype is a fixed, too-simple idea about what all people of one group are like, for example that all girls like pink or all old people are slow. tree →
2. To stereotype people is to judge them by such an idea instead of as the person they really are. tree →
3. A stereotype is a character in a story who is not real or deep but is made from such a simple idea. tree →
4. As an adjective, stereotype can mean fixed and unoriginal, like a joke or remark that is said over and over. tree →

In the lessons

In PSHE, citizenship and ethics lessons stereotypes are linked with prejudice and unfair treatment; pupils learn to spot them in adverts, books and jokes. In English lessons a «stereotypical» villain or princess is a flat character. Phrases: «a gender stereotype», «break the stereotype», «fit the stereotype», «challenge stereotypes».

Examples

• It is a stereotype that boys don't cry. tree →
• The advert used the old stereotype of the grumpy teenager. tree →
• Don't stereotype people because of where they come from. tree →
• She broke the stereotype by becoming the first female captain of the team. tree →
• In our book, the witch is a stereotype: ugly, cruel and cackling. tree →
• Stereotypes can make people feel left out. tree →
• He was stereotyped as lazy, but he worked harder than anyone. tree →
• Ha! ha! ha!” screamed Polly, and added his stereotype witticism. “Come, let us be men!” tree →

Note

Spelling: stereo-type, with «e» after r. Adjective «stereotypical», adverb «stereotypically». A stereotype is not the same as a fact about a group: even if some people fit it, many do not, so it is unfair to judge any one person by it.