ABSTRACT

The word stereotype has become a kind of stereotype in and of itself. The idea is that a stereotype negatively and unfairly characterizes an individual according to a particular group of which he/she is a member. This chapter discusses the fact that stereotyping of information is a natural human process. Stereotyping, as a process per se, is both necessary and natural. It is the extremes of this process that become a problem to society and to creators of film and television product. To prevent as many of the negative consequences of stereotyping as possible, we as creators must first realize the potential problems involved in the process itself. Considerable public concern has arisen about this type of stereotyping and about issues of media diversity in general. The most common stereotypes used in the media, and in society at large, are those of gender, race, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and physique.