Stereotypes

Stereotypes can be defined as "a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing." Examples of common stereotypes that can be found today would include: all Irish people are drunks, all blonde people are stupid or all young people are hooligans/vandals.

Stereotypes are often repeatedly used within the media, with different media outlets that include stereotypes being the internet, television, radio and magazines to name a few. The reason for this is to encourage large audiences to have beliefs that all people in a particular group are the same. This can be considered harmful as the stereotypes often hint at negative characteristics for that particular group and, as a result, influence prejudice and discrimination towards that particular social group.