Vocational Stereotypes

Paper Summary:

The paper relates that vocational stereotypes exist, where society may expect all members of vocational categories to conform to anecdotal expectations instead of reacting to them as individuals. The paper focuses on the stereotypes surrounding police officers, lawyers, telemarketers and used-car dealers. The paper asserts that every individual should be viewed with the proverbial "blank slate," regardless of his membership in any class associated with common stereotypes.

Outline:
Vocational Stereotypes
Police Officers
Lawyers
Telemarketers
Used-Car Dealers
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Stereotyping is the foundation of behavioral expectations about people and occurs most typically in relation to perceived categories of individuals, such as race, gender, nationality, religion, and any other group (Macionis 2003) wherein a particular person is expected to behave in a specific way based exclusively on membership in a class of persons. Generally, stereotypes are usually inaccurate, often negative, and always dangerous. That is not to say that no stereotypes have any basis in fact at all, because in many cases they might; the issue is simply that even the most accurate stereotypical expectations reflect an unjust assumption about individuals."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Conlon, Edward. (2004) Blue Blood. New York: Riverhead
• Gerrig, R.J., Zimbardo, R.G. (2005) Psychology and Life 18th Ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
• Haskell, Paul, G. (1998) Why Lawyers behave As They Do. Boulder, CO: Westview.
• Henslin, J.M. (2002) Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach. Boston: Allyn and Bacon
• Macionis, J.J. (2003) Sociology 9th Ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall

More papers on Vocational Stereotypes:

• Article Review # 110185 : "Vocational Education"
• Essay # 85670 : "Legislative Impacts and American Vocational Education"
• Essay # 69386 : "Vocational Counseling"

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