(Example at the end)
Usually we discuss stereotypes in terms of how they are harmful—which is good because it’s super important to recognize and confront the stereotypes that perpetuate systems of oppression and hurt. That doesn’t mean all of them are harmful, though. Some are neutral and and some are a net positive. If you can think of neutral ones that’s fine but I’m especially interested in the constructive and beneficial ones. Hopefully I’m explaining this well enough but if it becomes clear I didn’t I’ll delete this post.
Example: I usually encourage people, especially kids and pedestrians, to assume that drivers can’t see you. While it’s not necessarily true even a majority of the time, it’s nevertheless a constructive stereotype to hold in terms of road safety.
I don’t think a stereotype can ever really be constructive, even if “positive” since it limits the space for people that don’t fit it.
A clear example of this would be that Asian people are good at Maths. Not true, and does a lot of harm to the many Asians who are not exceptionally good at Maths. (For instance that Asian University candidates are often penalised for only having average Maths grades, or just the bullying and social pressure of feeling you’re not living up to a birthright.)
I would argue that this is not a positive stereotype, based on your own arguments and the fact that it stereotypes ability based on genetics. My own? “Sikhs are awesome people”. They do a lot of community outreach and help/feed absolutely anybody. That’s an example of a cultural stereotype that’s entirely based on the documented positive things they do as part of their identity, not how their blood relates to their ancestors. I mean, what’s the counter-point, “some Sikhs are assholes?” Maybe, but that applies to everyone…
I think you may have found one of the constructive stereotypes that OP wanted.
Good job.
I hope more folks can appreciate how great Sikhs often are.
The Asian/math example is often called ‘positive,’ yes, but I would never call it constructive. There’s a reason I chose the wording of my post. Same goes for Latine/x people and “hard work”—that’s ‘positive’ but in no way constructive (and in fact is hateful and detrimental) and so outside of my question altogether.
I am encouraging people to think of stereotypes that are both “positive” and constructive. I often find they apply to children. Like “mushrooms you find on the ground are poisonous,” or “all bears want to eat you.” But… people aren’t taking to my description I guess.
I think it’s that we don’t really call them stereotypes when they’re not applied to people.
At that point it’s just a hueristic.
Valid I suppose. Oxford Learner’s does allow for it to apply for non-people “things” though; I just think the word and its use has shifted so far (due to progress in the field of confronting and attacking negative stereotypes) that that element has almost been redefined out of existence in the minds of most people.
Removed by mod