The Point
Stereotypes haunt every individual in our society. Every class, racial group, and ethnic group will have what is believed to be a common lifestyle. These beliefs are held by individuals outside of the stereotyped social realm without looking at specific case examples. These stereotypes can have positive and negative consequences for the social groups that they apply to and are often socialized into existence by both ally and rival social groups.
Stereotypes are taught through all sorts of institutions of socialization, including the media. As social reconstruction changes society so do the standing and effect of stereotypes. As a social group advances in a society through civil right movements, family standings, or political standings, so will the truths and false accusations made by the stereotype of that group.
The most difficult and controversial subgroup in our society today is the homosexual population. In this paper I wish to address the truth and lies of the recent stereotypes about homosexuals. If the truth can be reported then perhaps we can see the present social standing of the group as compared to its standing in the past. If stereotypes change with social reconstruction then topics in these stereotypes can be used to measure the present standing of a subgroup in social reconstruction.
Cues of Stereotypes
It is easy for a person to claim a position against a minority group. It is even easier to hide these prejudice feelings against minority groups because it�s possible to determine, based on visual or audio stimulus, the race or ethnic background of an individual. Figure A shows two individuals, one obviously Latino while the other obviously Caucasian. The visual cues grant us the ability to draw first impressions as well as place stereotypes on that individual, whether they are positive or negative.
Visual cues grant everyone the ability automatically to place stereotypes on the individual.
Levitt and Klassen report that nearly 40% of adults clamed that they could recognize gay men and women based on appearance. Popular belief states that homosexual men tend to display feminine mannerisms while lesbians display masculine mannerisms. It is pointed out by Voeller that although people think that homosexual men and women can be identified by these stereotypes, only a minority of the U.S. homosexual population actually exhibits these traits. Homosexuality is a personal matter of lifestyle, and its identity has neither face nor distinct features and spans over all ages and racial backgrounds. One can never truly tell if an individual is homosexual until that individual volunteers that information. Then and only then can the stereotypes be accurately placed.
Heterosexual Advantage/Prefnocentrisism
Every time one person meets another, sensory cues grant them information about the person they are meeting. However, one automatically falls into the trap of what I will call prefnocentrisism.
The origin of prefnocentrisism is simple enough, and is closely intertwined with ethnocentrisism instead of basing ones opinion and comparison of another on ones own ethnic background but rather sexual preference. In the case of prenfocintrisism one judges a person or applies the same roles and expectations to the person that one would have of someone of there own sexual preference. Most straight people automatically assume that the individual they are meeting is straight. The Heterosexual Advantage is a mindset that runs parallel with the lack of double consciousness. This assumption leads many aspects of conversation and daily life to revolve around a heterosexual lifestyle. People will say, �Do you have a boyfriend?� or �What does your husband do?� If one automatically assumes that a person is straight and finds that he is wrong, then a wall can quickly be formed between the two individuals due to change in expectation or stereotype.
Though Prefnocentrisism and Heterosexual Advantage are closely related they are not the same. While the Heterosexual Advantage is the belief that everyone is assumed to be straight at first meeting Prefnocentrisism is applied to any individual, regardless of his or her sexual preference, and is the application of one�s own sexual orientation to the individual they are meeting.
Application of Stereotypes Film/Television
In his book Downsize This, Michael Moore states that most people tolerate the forms of prejudice and discrimination against minority groups because they don�t see nor deal with minorities as much as they do with members of their own social class or racial group. This can be observed in everyday life and is even pointed out in such films as Bowling For Columbine and Dangerous Minds. Bowling for Columbine points out that, in many ways, the African American population has become entertainment for the white people in this country through the nightly news and such shows as Cops. Dangerous Minds reinforces many stereotypes of African Americans and Latinos in this country. While some of the students work for a better future some drop out some peruse a future dealing drugs, and some try to live a normal life by paying there way with funds made by stealing.