Stereotypes
Outline of a presentation by Fred Pinson to Avondale Pattillo UMC
on its first Disability Sunday, September 29, 2004
What is a stereotype?
My working definition
Any generalization or assumption made by society about a group within that society.
Examples
Christians do not drink alcohol.
Pro athletes are all conceited.
Politicians are liars or crooks.
Stereotypes related to people with disabilities
“Negative” stereotypes
People with disabilities are sick.
People with disabilities require highly specialized, medically-oriented care.
People with disabilities cannot contend with stressful situations.
“Positive” stereotypes
People with disabilities feel comfortable using computers.
People with disabilities make highly devoted employees.
People with disabilities do well in school/work because they have few other
concerns.
Why both kinds are harmful
Everybody likes being seen as an individual first, and only then maybe as part of
a social, ethnic, or cultural group.
Effect of stereotypes. In addition to not necessarily being true about a given person,
stereotypes cause people to first see the group a person belongs to instead of the person.
Too often, seeing someone as a member of a group first results in prejudice and bias which
hinders getting to know the individual person that God made.