1. Stereotypes
RCAL, Oct 2010

2. Dictionary definition
“A fixed general image, characteristic, etc. that a lot of people believe to represent a particular type of person or thing.”
(Collins Cobuild Dictionary)

3. Stereotyping
When someone claims that members of another culture all share the same, often inferior or offensive characteristics.

4. Types of stereotypes
racial e.g. Red Indians in cowboy films are seen as bloodthirsty savages
gender e.g. women are bad drivers
age e.g. old people are said to be very forgetful
religion e.g. Catholics families have a lot of children
profession e.g. all lawyers are greedy

5. Heaven and Hell
Heaven is where the police are British, the cooks are French, the mechanics are German, the lovers are Italian and it is all organised by the Swiss.
Hell is where the police are German, the cooks are English, the mechanics are French, the lovers are Swiss, and it is all organised by the Italians.

6. The typical Frenchman

7. Historical basis

8. The typical Englishman

9. Basis in fiction

10. Where do stereotypes come from?
Parents and family
The media
Friends
Education (school, university)
Travel
Laziness
Fear
Envy
A sense of superiority
Lack of experience of people, etc.