Thoughts on Stereotypes

It's common knowledge that stereotypes can be a bad thing. (They can also be a lot of fun in the right circumstances, but that topic is probably best left for another column.) Everyone understands that stereotyping all black people as "gangsters" or all gay men as "pedophiles" is slanderous and undeserved. We understand that these are ways of dehumanizing people in a certain social or cultural group, treating them with less dignity than they respect, and rationalizing such mistreatment.

Unfortunately, we as a society don't always consider that "positive" stereotypes can have a negative impact upon the group being stereotyped as well. Because the positive stereotypes, such as the "talented and artistic gay man" and the "Asian kid whose good at math," aren't insulting or defaming, we tend to assume they're safe. The truth is, they're not. Their "danger" just lies in slightly different areas. But at their root, such stereotypes demonstrate the same troublesome characteristic as their negative counterparts: they paint everyone with the same broad brushstrokes and tend to cover up the "details" that make up the diverse group of unique individuals.

One way that this becomes a problem is that it sets up certain expectations. And when an individual within the stereotyped group does not meet those expectations, trouble can arise. Consider what happens when the "Asian kid" starts to struggle with his math homework. The exasperated teacher exclaims, "Aren't all of you supposed to be good in math?" Imagine how that teachers response -- based on the "positive" stereotype -- has affected that child. Imagine if that child goes through several years with math teachers who respond in a similar manner, all because he didn't live up to the "positive" stereotype.

Speaking as a gay man, I've seen the "positive" stereotypes about gay men have similar effects on various individuals within the (non-existent, but that's another column, too) gay community. I have seen way too many gay men lament that they don't "belong" because they don't "fit the mold" as portrayed by those stereotypes. When "positive" stereotypes start making people feel excluded, it becomes time to question how "positive" they really are.

The other issue with "positive" stereotypes is that no matter how flattering they may be, they can still be used as a way to dehumanize those being stereotyped. This can be best seen with Hollywood's use of the gay male stereotypes. Hollywood has jumped on the idea of gay people being funny (and I'll be the first to admit that a lot of us have quite a sense of humor). They like to put gay characters into their movies and televisions shows for the "laugh factor." NBC has even taken that idea to its heights with its television show, Will & Grace. Here we have a weekly sitcom that centers around a gay lawyer, his "fag hag," and their friends, the flaming queen who wants to be an actor and the rich alcoholic. It's a hilarious show, and I watch it semi-regularly.

But the problem is, if you look at Hollywood, you start to notice that it's almost as if they think gay people are only "good for a laugh." As a gay man, I start to wonder where the more serious portrayals of gay people are. After all, when the laughing's over, we have our difficulties, our challenges, and our heartaches too. (As an aside, have you noticed that while all of those gay characters are making you wet your pants with laughter, very few of them seem to have lovers?) To me, the "funny gay person" stereotype too often becomes a pigeonhole, and a way to shove gay people off into some corner that the rest of the world finds "safe." "We can laugh at you, but don't make us think about any other aspect of your lives." (For more information on this, I'd highly recommend you rent and watch The Celluloid Closet.)

Personally, the television show that truly impressed me was the WB's prime time show, Dawson's Creek. Their portrayal of Jack was one of the most real and incredible portrayals of a gay man I have ever seen. I just about cried during the episode when Jack came out to his family. And their treatment of his relationship woes was excellent. Unfortunately, Jack the insecure high schooler and those like him get far less "screen time" than Jack the hilariously funny flaming queen and his kind. And to be honest, I think it's a crying shame.