argumentative essay on stereotypes

• school Campus Bookshelves
• menu_book Bookshelves
• perm_media Learning Objects
• login Login
• how_to_reg Request Instructor Account
• hub Instructor Commons
• Download Page (PDF)
• Download Full Book (PDF)
• Periodic Table
• Physics Constants
• Scientific Calculator
• Reference & Cite
• Tools expand_more
• Readability

selected template will load here

This action is not available.

7.3.1: Annotated Sample Definition Argument

• Last updated
• Save as PDF
• Page ID 92707

Media Alternative

Listen to an audio version of this page (4 min,&nbsp49 sec):

Format note: This version is accessible to screen reader users.  Refer to these  tips for reading our annotated sample arguments with a screen reader . For a more traditional visual format, see  the PDF version of "Defining Stereotypes."

Imanol Juarez

Professor Peterkin

English 103

May 8, 2020

Defining Stereotypes

What defines you? As people, we often consider ourselves to be multifaceted, complex beings. (Note: The author opens the essay with a personal question, a strategy to get the reader's attention.) Yet in every culture people stereotype others, and oversimplified beliefs about people and cultures have a negative impact every day. (Note: A literal definition of the word "stereotypes.") Even though America’s society is exceptional in positive ways, it is also exceptional in its use of stereotypes, which can be seen through the racism that still pervades the U.S. Stereotyping is a form of racism that creates a single depiction of a group of people based on one aspect of their identity. (Note: The thesis defines stereotypes and the criteria the essay will use to explain this definition.)

Most cultures intentionally or unintentionally manipulate the images of a certain group or person, and as a result, stereotypical depictions are a widespread form of racism. (Note: The essay focuses on the connotation of stereotypes and how they function in the U.S.) For example, the Ferris State University’s Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia can give a dark glimpse into racist depictions of Latinos: “The stereotypical depictions of Mexicans, especially those thought to be in the United States illegally, are harsh and demeaning. The men are portrayed as illiterate criminals. The women are depicted as hypersexual. Both men and women are portrayed as lazy, dirty, physically unattractive menaces” (Ferris State). (Note: Evidence for the assertion that stereotypes are racist.) In extreme cases, racial profiling can be considered a form of stereotyping. Racial profiling is “the use of race or ethnicity as grounds for suspecting someone of having committed an offense.” One example of racial profiling took place on February 23, 2020, when two white men took the life of a young 26-year-old African American man named Ahmad Marquez Arbery while he was jogging around his neighborhood: “Gregory McMichael told the police that he thought Mr. Arbery looked like a man suspected in several break-ins in the area,” demonstrating the most abhorrent outcome of racist stereotypes ( New York Times ).

Some may argue that there is such a thing as a good stereotype, but all stereotypes are inherently racist. (Note: Juarez addresses the counterargument to his definition of stereotypes.) Yes, many cultures have stereotypes that are positive, but are they truly beneficial? Sam Killermann states in “3 Reasons Positive Stereotypes Aren't That Positive,” “Positive stereotypes exist for just about every identity and have the capacity to be just as damaging as the negative ones.” Take the stereotype that people of Asian descent are good at math. Positive stereotypes not only set standards high but also discourage individuals from performing; good stereotypes can also alienate individuals and make them depressed because they don’t have the characteristics everybody believes they have. (Note: The definition argument leads to a causal argument about how positive stereotyping can impact people.) There are many forms of stereotypes, but one thing is for sure: there is never such a thing as a good stereotype.

(Note: The Works Cited page uses MLA documentation style appropriate for an English class.)

Works Cited

“Mexican and Latino Stereotypes.” Mexican and Latino Stereotypes - Jim Crow Museum - Ferris State University , www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/news/jimcrow/mexican.htm .

Sam Killermann. “3 Reasons Positive Stereotypes Aren't That Positive.” It's Pronounced Metrosexual , Sam Killermann www.itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2012/04/reasons-positive-stereotypes-are-not-positive/ .

The New York Times . “Ahmaud Arbery Shooting: A Timeline of the Case.” The New York Times , The New York Times, 8 May 2020,  www.nytimes.com/article/ahmaud-arbery-timeline.html .

Attribution

This sample essay was written by Imanol Juarez, annotated by Natalie Peterkin, and edited by Anna Mills, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 .

The New York Times

The learning network | does reality tv promote dangerous stereotypes.

Does Reality TV Promote Dangerous Stereotypes?

Questions about issues in the news for students 13 and older.

• See all Student Opinion »

“Jersey Shore” had its final episode in December, but MTV is ready with a new reality show to take its place this month. But does the new show, “Buckwild,” exploit stereotypes of West Virginia and Appalachia just the same way that “Jersey Shore” caricatured Italian-Americans? If so, should we be watching? How do shows like this affect us?

In “Feeling Dragged Through the Mud, as MTV Comes to West Virginia,” Trip Gabriel reports on the controversy surrounding “Buckwild.”

Even though it has yet to be broadcast, a reality TV series set in this corner of Appalachia has created a stir for its portrait of young people prone to fighting, swearing, careening in all-terrain vehicles and wallowing, scantily clad, in the mud. The series, “Buckwild,” will fill the MTV slot vacated by “Jersey Shore.” Like that series, the new show has aroused anger over what some consider the exploitation of broad cultural stereotypes. “It doesn’t help the lousy reputation we already have,” said Greg Samms, 31, a dishwasher on a break at the Charleston Town Center mall. “You go west of Ohio, west of Kentucky — people think we’re hillbillies.” Kent Carper, the president of the Kanawha County Commission here, said dryly, “Some folks in West Virginia wear shoes, believe it or not.” Based on a two-minute trailer that MTV has released online, Senator Joe Manchin III, Democrat of West Virginia, labeled the show a “travesty” and called on MTV to cancel it. “This show plays to ugly, inaccurate stereotypes about the people of West Virginia,” Mr. Manchin wrote in a letter last month to Stephen K. Friedman, MTV’s president. He accused the show’s producers of egging on a cast between ages 19 and 24 to misbehave for the sake of ratings. “You preyed on young people, coaxed them into displaying shameful behavior — and now you are profiting from it,” Mr. Manchin wrote. “That is just wrong.”

Students: Tell us …

• Do you think reality TV shows like “Jersey Shore” and “Buckwild” promote stereotypes? If so, do you think they’re just harmless entertainment, or do you think those stereotypes are dangerous?
• Do you think reality TV has a responsibility to show “reality”? Or do you think viewers know that a show’s cast is performing for an audience?
• Do you ever watch reality TV? What do you like about it? What don’t you like about it?
• If you could produce your own reality TV show, what would it be about? Would you try to avoid promoting stereotypes? How?

Students 13 and older are invited to comment below. Please use only your first name. For privacy policy reasons, we will not publish student comments that include a last name.

Comments are no longer being accepted.

I believe that these types of shows endorse stereotypes. These stereotypes cause people in other parts of the country to believe that is how all people from that area behave and this is not true.

I think that TV shows can create some streotypes but not serious ones. Viewers should know when the cast is performing for an audience or if it is reality. I do not watch TV but if I did I would not watch reality.

I do believe reality TV affects the way Americans present ourselves for example how we dress and the language we use. Although these TV shows affect us, they should still be able to present these shows on television because the viewers should be able to make their own decisions.

I think that they do promote stereotypes and i think that they are a bad influence on our kids. I say that because if a kid watches Buckwild then he could think that all people in Virginia are redneck mud truckers when really there not.

I don’t watch reality TV shows because I don’t like them. So, I cannot answer this question because I do not have enough information about any shows on TV. I also would not make a TV show because I think it would be stupid and no one would watch it.

I do not think that reality TV shows promote stereotypes. It is just entertainment. Everyone knows that “reality” TV is not 100% true. I watch reality TV on occasion. I think it is entertaining how stupid some people are. I wouldn’t want to produce a reality TV show because there is already enough stupid ones out there.

Yes, I strongly agree that reality TV shows do promote stereotypes because there is usually violence or other things like that on the shows to keep people interested` and that gives us the idea that they are violent. It really makes people judge others by the way some people from that area are, which we see on TV. If there were less reality TV shows, there would be less people thinking that that is how people from those areas act, when really it is all acting and a script just to entertain people watching the show.

I do believe that these shows promote stereotypes. It depends on the stereotype used, but it could potentially be dangerous. I think reality TV should actually show “reality”, or at least something close to it. I do watch some shows sometimes, and they are funny, but I don’t watch them all the time. If I could produce my own show, it would be about something that is important or skills people just should know. I would try to avoid stereotypes, but sometimes small ones can’t be helped.

I think reality TV shows like Jersey Shore do not promote stereotypes. I think this because Jersey Shore promotes stupidity and the real world does not live the way the cast on the show lives. Reality TV, is not reality, it is only promoted to gain audience viewers and make money. I do not have cable so I do not watch TV.

I think that reality TV shows promote stereotypes. Although to some people it may be taken as harmless entertainment, because these people in reality TV do certain things, people watching it will eventually accept it as normal. This is dangerous because not everything these people do in reality shows is acceptable. If you are going to make a reality show, talk about topics that are going on in the world right now. People watching reality shows should know that even though it may be a reality show, these people are still acting. So, their actions shouldn’t be taken seriously.

I think that reality TV shows do promote stereotypes but I also think that it is harmless entertainment. I also think that TV channels have the responsibility to entertain and whether or not it is ‘reality’ TV it does not change that. Viewers should know that the cast is performing for an audience but I do not think everyone does. I do sometimes watch reality TV, I like that it is entertaining but I don’t like how stupidly aggressive people become on the shows.If I were to produce a reality TV show it would be about college students. I would not try to avoid promoting stereotypes because that is what is entertaining and would make money.

I feel that they do, but a lot of today’s word is about stereotypes. I feel that there are parts of both shows that are dangerous to our health and the ones around us. Most people on the other hand does not care about others or them self’s, as long as their having fun. I feel that there is no need for there to be reality TV that shows things to little children about the bad things that these people make look good and fun. There is little to no reason for me to watch reality TV, because I don’t like to watch teenage kids/ young adults get drunk, have sex, and fall over, and puck from a hangover. I would try not to add in any stereotypes, but it would be about my family, my life and what we go through.

I do think that shows like Jersey shore promote some stereotypes, but I also think it is only for harmless entertainment. I do think that if a reality show is scripted however, the viewers should be able to know. I like reality shows because of the small parts of the show where individual people give their thoughts on certain situations in the show.

I very much think shows do promote stereotypes. I think that they could be dangerous because they can cause bullying and harassment to occur. I feel that while reality TV should show reality, often people can realize that it is just a scripted show. I do watch reality TV; I love the humor that can come from it, but I dislike the fact that most of it isn’t real. Me and my friends used to think that our middle school would make an amazing idea for a reality show. It would simply show what went on at our school, whether or not there are stereotypes would be only controlled by whether students decided to promote them themselves or not.

I think that these stereotypical shows like “Jersey Shore” and “Buckwild” are very rude and harmful toward many people, and I think it’s a lower case of discrimination but nobody really notices due to the television ego. There are numerous other things in life we could have a TV show about like the daily life of a tormented kid to not only give notice to people about bullying but to try and get bullies to decrease in population. I sometimes watch reality shows, but not like “16 & Pregnant” and/or “Jersey Shore” they are usually not entertaining to me and it’s a waste of money and people to be on that show. If I made a reality show it would show many things that happen in our everyday lives that need to be shown more and try to make changes or enforce some things.

It is not the shows that promote the stereotypes, it is the people that watch them. Television is about entertainment and it is up to the people to create stereotypical ideas from the shows and it is up to the people acting to act like what they think italians or mexicans.

I do think shows like “Jersey Shore” and “Buckwild” promote stereotypes. I think they are just for entertainment though. Stereotypes will always be present in society, you can’t really stop them. I think reality TV is just for entertainment, so they don’t really need to show reality. Maybe they should tell the audience that the acts portrayed are not to be taken serious? I don’t know. I never watch reality TV personally.

Yes, I think that shows like “Jersey Shore” and “Buckwild” promote stereo types. I have never personally watched “Jersey Shore”, I have listened to my friends talk about it and have seen commercials for some of the episodes and I believe that kids my age are influenced by what they’ve seen on that show. Depending on what is being shown, I believe it can vary as to whether its harmless entertainment or creating dangerous stereotypes. If the people on the show are doing inapporiate things then stereotypes may come from that, influencing the audience’s opinions on what is happening.

Yes, I do think reality TV shows promote stereotypes which could be dangerous because they lead to increased discrimination. I think it is rather ironic that reality TV fails to show the true “reality” of average people, but instead they show over-dramatized situations filled with vulgar language, and all around rude behavior. I personally do not watch reality TV because I feel as though it is a waste of time, and I’m much too busy doing homework and other productive things to cloud my mind with what I think of as filth. I would not want to create a reality TV show.

Reality television can promote dangerous stereotypes, but not all do. Jersey shore does though, it suggests that everyone who is Italian is very dull minded and is making 100,000 dollars an episode for going to the gym, and applying spray tan.

I do think that reality TV shows such as Jersey Shore and Buckwild promote stereotypes. I think that these stereotypes can be offensive and incorrect on many occasions. A lot of times, such as in the case of these TV shows, the stereotypes can be negative, and can cast a negative opinion on an entire group of people from the behavior of a few. Also, think that reality TV should show actual reality, which means showing a variety of people, not just the “crazy” ones. I think that most reality TV shows focus on the most interesting, reckless, and drama-filled groups of people. Although I think that this is acceptable, because it is what viewers want to watch, I believe that the shows should also should show other people in the same groups that do not act so carelessly and recklessly. it is not fair to stereotype an entire group of people based on the bad behavior of a few of its members.

I feel as if television shows such as “Buckwild” and “Jersey Shore” aren’t necessarily harsh entertainment, but they are dangerously stereotypical. I also think, however that viewers should know that the cast in “Buckwild” is performing for the MTV audience, so people that view this show should know that it’s only a television show. The age difference that the producers expect to see interested in this show is old enough to understand that it’s only a show with the word “reality” attached to it. I have watched reality television, but it seems a little too over dramatic, clearly not being a full reality show. Overall, shows are for entertainment and people have to be responsible enough to know that.

I watch reality T.V. sometimes and I fee like reality T.V. does promote stereotypes. But It is youre decision if you watch reality T.V and your decision to follow them or not. Reality T.V. is for entertainment purposes basically and it is obviously not always reality. If I were to make my own reality T.V. show I would make it about farm animals. That way they will not promote steroetypes.

I think reality T.V. shows like “Jersey Shore” and “Buckwild” do promote sterotypes that are very dangerous to the ill-informed. I do believe that reality shows do have a responsibility to show real reality and not what they are now. It is unfortanit, but I do believe that soe of the audience do not understand that the cast are usually just performing for them and do not act like that when the camera is off. I do not watch reality TV shows because I prefer anime. If I could make a reality TV show, I would probably make it about what goes on in school in everyday life. I would avoid sterotypes by having a multi-cultured cast so the audience wouldn’t be able to just focus on one cast member’s culture.

Shows like Jersey Shore and this new show Buckwild do promote stereotypes. These stereotypes only show the bad side of the situation, or in this case location. People around the world believe that everyone in New Jersey lives like people involved in Jersey Shore. The same case is happening in MTV’s new show Buckwild. It will promote stereotypes to other people who don’t how people actually live.

What's Next