See the first post in this series for an introduction to the negative stereotypes behind bad and ugly gossip.
If you use negative stereotypes about people who are different from you, you are inviting everyone who hears you to use negative stereotypes about you. Below are some of the negative stereotypes other people could use about you.
Stereotype Updates
I add stereotypes as I come across them.
New stereotype examples in each category are underlined.
Sign up for the mailing list to receive emails listing the new stereotypes.
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People living at working class, low income and poverty levels
thieving
lazy
dependent
passive
uneducated
unmotivated
undeserving
deviant for not being middle class
don’t work hard enough
don’t work at all
can’t improve themselves
feel bad about themselves
don’t make friends well
unable to defer gratification
lack of respect for or interest in education
dishonest
promiscuous
apathetic or ignorant about birth control
ethnic minority
lack thrift
loose morals
no personal drive
no willingness to take risks
no initiative
unwilling to work hard
fail to seize opportunities
take advantage of the health care system
deserve to live in poor neighborhoods near garbage dumps and
toxic waste, near noxious industries
deserve poorer school systems, inferior medical care, more
frequent arrests, harsher prison sentences, more severe
social control
should pay for restaurant meals before they eat
should be watched closely in stores
should be publicly humiliated
believe everything they see on television
are the group most likely to have trouble paying their bills
Mothers receiving welfare
lazy
freeloader
wild
lack confidence
abuse the system
practice fraud
get something for nothing
sit at home
lack work ethics
keep having babies for free
unskilled laborers
live high on the hog
on drugs
deserve contraceptive testing, involuntary sterilization,
and coercive treatment during pregnancy, prosecution
for drug use
fat
sits in front of television all day eating potato chips
adopted a child so they could get welfare
Fathers of low income children
deadbeat dads (only good for financial support)
Social welfare programs are meant to help
low income people
Low income people are poor in
friendships
verbal skills
education
social manners
resources
health
happiness
Low income parents
lack educational values
Low income children
lack motivation
do not value education
would not benefit from the kind of education offered in schools in
wealthier areas
Low income women
slobs
plain
unattractive
neglect their children
Low income men
buffoon
threat
Points to Ponder
Did you notice that people living in poverty might not be able to improve themselves because other people think they “deserve” poorer school systems?
Did you notice the opposite stereotypes that people living in poverty “can’t improve themselves” but can “take advantage of the health care system”?
Did you notice that people living in poverty can take advantage of the health care system, but are poor in health?
Did you notice that people living in poverty might need to take advantage of the health care system because other people think they “deserve” inferior medical care?
How do people living in poverty “live high on the hog” when other people think they “deserve to live in poor neighborhoods near garbage dumps and toxic waste, near noxious industries”?
Personal Note
I wrote letters to the editor about poverty issues for several years. I was low income because a childhood injury to my spine was misdiagnosed for 33 years. Eventually, normal sitting and standing became extremely painful. How would you earn money if you couldn’t sit or stand normally?
Early in my letter writing years, a friend was in a baby sitting coop. My friend attended a meeting shortly after the newspaper had published one of my letters about poverty. One of the other women in the coop asked if anyone knew Paula Kramer. My friend said she did. The other woman asked:
“Is Paula fat and does she sit in front of TV set all day eating potato chips?”
My friend told me she set the woman straight.
My husband was part Native American and our daughter has his darker skin coloring. A neighbor asked me,
“Did you adopt your daughter so you could get welfare?”
Why would any adoption agency allow someone living at poverty level to adopt a child?
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Critical Thinking Questions
1. What’s happening?
2. Why is it important?
3. What don’t I see?
4. How do I know?
5. Who is saying it?
6. What else? What if?
Stereotype Thinking Questions
1. What is threatening my beliefs?
2. How can I make it unimportant?
3. What can I reject?
4. What can I laugh at?
5. How can I attack people who threaten my beliefs?
6. How can I deflect?
The stereotype thinking questions are mine, based on my observations of stereotype thinkers.
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Online workshop that provides strategies to chip away stereotypes in both professional and personal relationships:
Simple & Effective Strategies For Ending Negative Workplace Gossip
“After participating in the gossip power presentation, I know I now have a better plan to be more effective in understanding how gossip affects every area of a person’s personal and professional life. Using her strategies on gossip power and gossip ears I feel I will be better able to navigate these areas both inside and outside the office. Paula does a great job, using both scientific research and personal anecdotes and examples, to develop strategies for turning the power of gossip into positives for anyone attending her presentation. I left energized and excited about her message and what I learned and am definitely looking forward to learning more at her glass ceiling presentation.“
Mark Spiers
SBDC Consultant
Paula is a fabulous motivational speaker. Not only does she speak on positivity, but she conducts webinars on gossip and how to get out of the trap!! She is very knowledgeable, professional and inspirational! I love Paula’s talks and webinars! She mentors women to bring out their best and believe in themselves! Thank you for all that you! The world needs you right now!
Lauren Ebbecke
Paula M. Kramer
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Posts on this blog alternate with posts at the link below. Posts for both blogs are published on Wednesdays as they are ready to be published. Time between posts could be weeks or months.
Gossip Posters
Resource Websites
Business Directory
Positive Identity Directory For People With Mugshots
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