Stereotypes

In article 9, "Sex and Race" by William Chafe, Chafe raises an interesting point about how oppressed groups perpetuate the status quo. He states, "...members of the 'oppressed' group acted as accomplices in perpetuating the status quo" (P 641). As an example he talks about a mother telling her daughter not to be too intellectual on a date and to utilize traditional, stereotypical manners that reflect the way women are "supposed" to act. I started thinking about if oppressed groups who perpetuate their stereotypes benefit in any way in doing so. It's safe to say the groups do benefit because I think this is why they continue to attempt to fit into certain stereotypes.

Members of stereotypically oppressed groups aid in promoting their stereotypes because they feel as if they can get ahead in society. They feel they have a better chance of being hired for jobs and for women, a better chance at finding men who will be interested in them and who will stay interested in them. There are also cases of internalized oppression where some people really do believe that (certain) stereotypes are true. As long as the dominant group in society believes and promotes stereotypes, the oppressed groups cannot really escape them. Instead, people make the best of the situation and try to benefit from stereotypes since they don't see another option. As a result, society does not undergo any change and the ongoing cycle is difficult to break.

Sarah