1. Defining and Breaking Down Stereotypes Mentee Guide Week 3 The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

2. Peer-to-Peer Discussion* What is a Stereotype? * Please take a few minutes to share your ideas and opinions The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

3. What is a Stereotype? Assumed set of characteristics associated with a particular social group or type of person (Heatherton, Hebl, Hull, & Kleck 2000). Generalizations about people that are based on limited, sometimes inaccurate, information (Stoller, 2010). A stereotype is an exaggerated belief, image or distorted truth about a person or group — a generalization that allows for little or no individual differences or social variation. Stereotypes are based on images in mass media, or reputations passed on by parents, peers and other members of society. Stereotypes can be positive or negative (Southern Poverty Law Center, 2010). The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

4. Peer-to-Peer Discussion* How can stereotypes be harmful? * Please take a few minutes to share your ideas and opinions The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

5. How can stereotypes be harmful? Stereotypes provide over-simplified images of the world The reliance on stereotypes prevents us from gaining a more thorough knowledge of other people andother cultures (Kubik & Kubik, 2000). Stereotypes that are shared by a larger number of people may in turn reinforce inequalities and function as a means to reinforce unequal distributions of power (Kubik & Kubik, 2000). Stereotyping can reinforce prejudicial attitudes toward minority groups (DuBois & Miley, 2005). Discussion Prompt: What do you think of these four statements? Do you disagree with any of these statements? The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

6. Case Study Women and STEM Fields “Though boys and girls take the same number of science and math classes through high school, fewer women declare majors in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subjects, and even fewer still move on to graduate-level study and professional careers in those fields. A report, which looked at recent research on the topic, found that entrenched stereotypes and biases affect performance in both genders. The authors highlight two main stereotypes: that girls are not as good as boys at math, and that scientific careers are "masculine" in nature. Researchers found that the stereotypes can lower girls' performance in these subjects and also reduce their interest in pursuing science or engineering jobs. The Bayer Corporation found that 40 percent of female and minority chemists and chemical engineers polled said they had been discouraged from pursuing a career in a STEM field at some point in their lives (Chivis, 2010).” Discussion Prompt: Have you ever been stereotyped because of your gender? The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

7. The Cycle of a Stereotype People are socialized into stereotype(s) against a given group on both a cultural & a personal level by various institutions & individuals including parents, teachers, schools, businesses, the legal system Individual biases form from this socialization & result stereotyping behaviors These cultural norms, behaviors and personal attitudes (i.e., the expressions of the stereotype) perpetuate social stigma(s) against a given group These behaviors further reinforce personal attitudes and become embedded as cultural norms The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

8. The Cycle of a Stereotype: Example Women are discouraged from going into STEM fields by their families, teachers, friends, and/or the media Individual biases are formed resulting in individual people believing that women are not capable of learning and competing within the STEM fields A large part of society believes that women at not capable of success in STEM fields These beliefs discourage schools and employers from accepting women in STEM fields & less women enter the STEM fields. Disproportionally high male enrollment is viewed this to be normal The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

9. Critical Reflection Take a few minutes to reflect on a time you perpetuated, stopped, or were affected by a stereotype Individual Reflection What? So What? Now What? Please share your story in detail: who was involved, what events took place, where did the incident take place, etc. What did you learn from this life experience? How has this experience shaped the way you act or how will it shape the way you act in the future? The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

10. Breaking the Cycle How will you respectfully work to challenge the stereotypes you are confronted with? * Please take a few minutes to share your ideas and opinions The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership