Stereotyping, Racism and Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

Paper Summary:

This paper examines why ethnic stereotypes develop, and how members of various ethnic groups are seen and see themselves. Various case studies are explored, in particular the example of Asian-Americans. Additionally, research is presented that shows how stereotypes are often based on expectations associated with membership in certain racial or ethnic groups.

From the Paper:

"This profusion of ethnic slurs in our language obviously reflects the bigotry and prejudice in our cultural history. However, at a deeper level these words chronicle the history of ethnic conflict in American society. The number of slurs, their targets, and the origins of the terms show that most originated in historical situations--wherever groups met and fell into conflict. Contact and conflict, usually about economic matters, heightened the contrast of ethnic cultures, which led to culture clash and recoil. Ethnic slurs proliferated in cities where many ethnic groups lived in close quarters and bristled in their everyday contacts. Many of the words are genuine Americanisms--homegrown words first coined and used in this country. Many others are loanwords borrowed especially from British English, but also from Spanish, French, German, Yiddish, and West African languages--the languages of major immigrant groups. (Allen, 1990, p. "

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