When that happens, effective communication, along with productive relationships, is jeopardized and thwarted. The following simple yet meaningful exercise will help demonstrate the effect of seemingly innocent stereotypes on judgements of others. It will take only a few minutes, and there are no wrong answers. Very quickly, using your first impression, indicate beside each adjective below which sex the word best describes. Glancing over your responses, notice the number of M's, F's, and B's.
Most people get a good mix of all three.
Stereotypes, after all, develop from observed behavioral generalities. Again, the stereotypes in of themselves are not the problem. However, if stereotypes are used to form opinions about other elements of a person's capabilities or behavior, then problems arise. Most people agree that, yes, the list could be describing a man or a woman. Actually, the list is describing me, as viewed by my friends and business associates.