I & S: Stereotypes

What Have I Learnt about Stereotypes (Surprised about it)

• Stereotypes are oversimplified...
• I have learnt that stereotypes are very harmful because it prevents people from really knowing each other with the thought that "He must behave like this" and "I don't like that behaviour".
• It limits people's potential. When people are in a group, they have to fit the stereotypes because if they don't they might seem or feel like they're excluded and aren't comfortable. So, most people would try their best to fit into their group and not really being themselves, hiding themselves.
• It limits people's potential also by using other people. For example, when the PE teacher sees an asian student, he might immediately get the idea that he is poor in sport. Well, he might actually be good in sports but the teacher is lower expectations and not allowing him to play or mentally weakening him by making him feel depressed.
• We often stereotype our group as a better group and group that we don't belong in as less good groups.
• Stereotypes can be good. However, all stereotypes are problematic. Once again, if people don't fit that good / bad stereotype, they might feel excluded and lonely and uncomfortable... For example, "Asian students are smart" is a good stereotype. If x is stupid he might feel excluded. And if x's teacher expect him to be smart he would set higher expectations and x might fail them.
• Stereotypes come from the media, friends, family, personal experiences... Media is a huge part. It includes TV shows, movies, news, reality shows, radio, newspaper...
• The media can help recover stereotypes by using a variety of actors of different groups as the main character. The media can help recover it by being less picky when they film reality TVs. They can also report more positive news, especially about a certain group that is visualised as bad or is not welcomed.
• Individuals can unlearn stereotype by trying to make friends with people from different groups. Individuals can help recover stereotypes by also convincing their friends to make friends of different groups and by reminding / warning friends and family not to use stereotypes.
• Sometimes, we hear only one thing of a person, and we'd use stereotypes and ideas to judge how they are. For example, if I say there's a teenager who would never walk out of his home without a cross across his neck, you might immediately think he's a very religious christian and is a good-two-shoes. However, he could be a rapper when sunglasses and gelled hair with a lose jacket, and a big curvy cross.
• However, we also shouldn't judge someone by their looks. Using the previous example, the rapper that looks like that doesn't have to mean he's tough, brave, and mean. He can be a kind person that's just trying to look cool (maybe because he has to fit his stereotypes of a rapper).
• Many subjects can include stereotypes, like L&L having stereotypes in stories, like Drama using stereotypes to tell the audience about the character...

Questions I Still Have about the Topic

I don't really have much questions, but:

1. How does it differ from prejudice?
2. What groups are more likely to have stereotypes (I know I shouldn't stereotype that group, just curious)
3. What groups are more likely to be open-minded and doesn't use as much stereotypes?
4. When did stereotypes start? Did it start since long ago since the first time two different tribes met?