what is a sterotype

A stereotype is a widely held, simplified, and essentialist belief about a specific group. It is a generalized belief about a particular category of people, an expectation that people might have about every person of a particular group. Stereotypes are preconceived ideas and simplistic images that have a negative influence on the way we see people, interact with them and treat them. Stereotypes can be positive, neutral, or negative, and they may or may not accurately reflect reality. Stereotypes can be overgeneralized, overanalyzed, and inaccurate, and resistant to new information, but can sometimes be accurate. Stereotypes are often based on sex, gender identity, race and ethnicity, nationality, age, weight, occupation, skin color, etc. . Stereotyping involves inferring that a person has a whole range of characteristics and behaviors based on their membership in a particular group. Stereotypes can be explicit, which means that one is aware that one holds them and is aware that one is using them to judge people. Stereotypes can also be implicit, which means that they are unconscious and automatic.