Stressed, tired, short-fused, somewhat anxious if not downright fearful, it’s easier than ever to look for shortcuts to get things done including our understanding of others. Stereotypes are the quick fix, the cut the corner, the easy habit that labels others in order to speed up our interactions with the least use of energy and personal connection.
But human connection is complicated and takes work and when we short cut to save time and/or energy, we can do more damage than good.
“Ah, of course he did that because he’s – fill in the blank.” “We need her on the project because she is “fill in the blank.” “They always do that. I should have known since they are – fill in the blank.” Labeling and categorizing situations, conversations, relationships and people is what we do as humans. Yet, this limited view afforded by stereotyping in every day encounters leads to miscommunication and a loss of authenticity.
Stereotypes are the fast food of human connection and communication. Stereotypes fulfill some initial need, and they don’t sustain us. At times we are drawn to them, crave them, and give into them, muting our better judgment. Like fast food, they are a quick fix, and oddly comforting. It’s often easier simply to label with only one or two aspects of a person’s personality, ignoring the depth and complications of their multifaceted being. Over time this eats away at our relationships, and sometimes, even moments after speaking or thinking them about another person, we feel less than justified about our choice.
Stereotypes are powerful because they have traces of truth and meaning. That fact that there is some nutritional value in fast food is what supports our belief that we are getting fed.
Because of their power and apparent ease of use, we need to be on alert for them.
I’ve recently heard people claim the meaninglessness of stereotypes. Its impact was more of trying to remove the power by proclaiming it so. If meaningless, we would not categorize nor belittle others by using/thinking them. If meaningless, jokes would not be funny nor offensive – if meaningless we would not have deep and intense discussions as improvisation actors about where the line is between character and stereotype, and where is it humor and offensive. If stereotypes were meaningless the world would be a safer place.
Let’s work on calling out the stereotypes and the assumptions. By calling them out for what they are, it can lessen their impact.
Because stereotypes are built on a germ of truth they have a certain stickiness. But since they are flat, mono dimensional, and a single facet, they cling to a limited view of a person, thing or event. It takes little work to see the stereotype – marketing relies on it. Jokes frequently play on it. But what damage is caused in the fallout?
An alternative to this choice is to embrace the rounder, multidimensional archetype. It takes more effort to consider the complicated aspects of the colleague. Archetypes are an available framework based in the universal stories we share a humans. And archetypes include the multifaceted nature of being human. We are each a complicated tapestry woven of our life stories.
It takes energy to embrace and engage with people as archetypes with all their multifaceted traits. People are complicated and that can be exhausting and a little confusing – neither of which we are comfortable with.
Stereotypes and archetypes are definitely siblings and because of that we need to be wary. Wary. It’s dangerous to think that stereotypes hold no power, that they are meaningless. It’s in that dismissal that stereotypes can sneak up and undermine community and connection. We all fall under stereotypical characteristics. So if you’re reading this, you may dismiss what I have to say. You may categorize me as a stereotype: actor, woman, white woman, certain age, doesn’t understand, elitist, privileged, her name is Hillary, etc. Of course these are stereotypes and we have to guard against making decisions based solely on one or two of them while not dismissing them in combination with the whole.
The arts play a major role in exposing stereotypes and expanding archetypes. While teaching and directing improvisation with youth, we had many discussions about stereotypes. They often play a large role in humor, and in particular, improvisation. Why do they work? There is truth in a stereotype. If there were no truth in the stereotype, it wouldn’t exist. Stereotypes divide and minimize by making someone else the other.
On the other hand, when we use archetypes in improvisation, we are finding the universal and connecting to it. In improvisation we may drop into a stereotype of a jock in a scene by standing broadly, puffing our chest and kind of grunting. There may be a laugh. If the scene continues and that character remains flat, trapped in the limited attributes of this stereotype, it feels empty and hollow. If we allow the character to evolve into an archetype or a combination of archetypes, we then are invited in to relate to and laugh with vs. keep separate and laugh at. If the “jock” is allowed to become a jester and a sage and an explorer then the scene can become richer and the story more easily connected to us as an audience. Archetypes are the universal stories with multi-dimensional characters that we connect to – across cultures and ages. Stereotypes trap us in a limited view of someone while archetypes elevate us to an expansive and inclusive view of who someone may be.
Food for thought (pun intended): Is our tendency to choose the quick option? During this pandemic, I’ve been eating more fast food than I ever have in my life. Because I’m tired, and it’s easy, and there is some, albeit not great, nutritional value. Eating fast food mostly impacts me. Ingesting stereotypes impacts my community. In a time of limited energy, I need to invest a good portion in being aware how I’m relating to my fellow travelers on this journey. Embrace each other’s full, round, multi-dimensional selves and create healthier relationships with colleagues and clients.
Hilary Blair is a leadership keynote speaker based out of Denver, CO, and is the co-founder of ARTiculate: Real & Clear. She is also a highly regarded, actor, improviser, facilitator, voice-over artist, and voice expert coach. Contact us today to learn more.
