Prejudices, typecasting, labeling are all synonymous to stereotyping. So what is a stereotype? It is a generally accepted thought or idea about a certain group of people or a thing. It can be blatantly incorrect and perhaps hurtful to the particular person. Stereotypes are the views of a small and narrow mind. Gender stereotyping is very common in India when you look at the Indian retail market, you come across advertisements which show female models for jewellery, cooking oil, hair oil, cleaning supplies etc., and male models for energy drinks, running shoes, liquor and gadgets. Does it imply that females don't need shoes or gadgets, while the male counterparts don't need cleaning and grooming? No. The retailers indiscriminately shove their brand and product on the average TV viewer through the media based on the assumed target audience.The teens and the children viewing such an advertisement develop a cognitive understanding of the stereotype, which idea is used tby them in a relevant situation. In the field of marketing, stereotyping could be perpetual in the name of reaching out to the 'target audience'. All right let's take it lightly and look at random stereotypes specific to the Indian community some funny and some not.
1. It says so on Wikipedia, so it must be true.
2. All Tamils and Malayalis are portrayed wearing dhoti and having a streak of Thiruneer on the forehead, in most North-Indian films. And of-course speak bad hindi. (Do we all?)
3. All NRIs save lakhs and lakhs of money every month and invest them in India.[Debatable]
4. When a superhero says "Save the world", he means America. Even Vishwaroopam Kamal is not an exception.
5. All foreigners hate spicy Indian food.(In fact, Butter chicken masala is the most tasted Indian recipe across UK and USA).
6. Village girls have no boyfriend.(Really?)
7. Working bachelors away from home can't cook.(No. I think they discover new recipes and improvise very well with what's at hand.)
8. Housewives are not familiar with current affairs. ( Men please change your mind, women are better opinionated in these matters.)
9. All Indian boys love and worship cricket. ( Not true.. my husband wouldn't recognise Yuvraj Singh even if stands beside him.)
10. Daughters take over the household duties from their parents.(True. Domesticate your sons too.
11. Pink is a girls' colour. Any guy wearing a shade of pink clothing is gay.(True. My husband refuses to touch my pink handbag while I go to the restroom at a mall).
12. All moms watch TV serials like clock work.
13. You are a bad parent if you are not conservative in terms of clothes.
14. If the reviewer in the newspaper says the movie is bad, the movie is bad.[Not true, Uthama Villan received low ratings but I liked it.]
The final one is my favourite...
15. Parent's reaction to son's girlfriend - Wow!! Is she pretty, can I see a picture of her?
Parent's reaction to daughter's boyfriend - Shut up and be reminded of why I sent you to college. Stop seeing him once for all.
Stereotyping is delusional so it can be fought against. Especially in children, gender labeling can cause a negative effect. Actions against such typecasting should start at home by responsible parents. We should break the common myths and open our minds to the new and fresh ideas.
Note: My tendency to add 'feministic ideas' in every blog post is one of my idiosyncrasies. I should snap out of it hopefully.
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