Stereotyping in the Workplace

Sterotyping today takes place all over the world. We all form opinons and judgments about an individual or group because they are different from us. The United States is a melting pot of a vast diversity of people from different cultures and backgrounds. At many companies I have worked at engineers are a unique group with vastly different perspectives on science with postulations and theories, and approachs to solving problems. Managers and scientists in the work place view things differently. They have prejudicial opinions based upon their upbringing and education. Those in the deep south where they are not educated as well as those in literate areas perceive things differently due to their educational gaps many studies have shown. As McLaren indicated in her article. There needs to be an increase in mutual understanding through the educational environment. I have been telling people this for years. When a society is more literate, cultural prejudices and stereotyping are diminished. Enhancing intercultural skills is another element we agree upon. In Los Angeles many people have their opinions about the Latino groups in L.A. due to the cultural differences. By teaching cultural differences in high school the tensions between the ethnic groups can be bridged and thereby reduced.

I looked in the Reader’s Digest Oxford: Complete Word Finder (1996) to view the definition of stereotyping: (1) a person or thing that conforms to an unjustifiable fixed, standardized or mental picture; (2) such an impression or attitude.