CONTROVERSY & DEBATE
Is Sociology Nothing More Than Stereotypes?
"Protestants are the ones who kill themselves!"
"People in the United States? They're rich, they love to marry, and they love to divorce!"
"Everybody knows that you have to be black to play professional basketball!"
Everyone, including sociologists, loves to generalize. But beginning students of sociology may wonder how generalizations differ from stereotypes. For example, are the statements above sound generalizations or simple stereotypes?
The three statements at the top of this column are stereotypes, exaggerated descriptions applied to every person in some category. First, rather than describing averages, each statement paints every individual in a category with the same brush; second, each ignores facts and distorts reality (even though many stereotypes do contain an element of truth); third, a stereotype sounds more like a "put-down" than a fair-minded assertion.
Good sociology, by contrast, involves making generalizations, but with three important conditions. First, sociologists do not indiscriminately apply any generalization to all individuals; second, sociologists are careful that a generalization squares with available facts; third, sociologists offer generalizations fair-mindedly, with an interest in getting at the truth.
Earlier in this chapter, we noted that the suicide rate among Protestants is higher than among Catholics or Jews. However, the statement-"Protestants are the ones who kill themselves"-is not a reasonable generalization, since the vast majority of Protestants do no such thing. Moreover, it would be just as wrong-headed to assume a particular friend, because he is a Protestant male, is on the verge of self-destruction. (Imagine refusing to lend money to a roommate who happens to be a Baptist, explaining, "Well, given your risk of suicide, I might never get paid back!")
Second, sociologists shape their generalizations to available facts. A more factual version of the second statement is that, on average and by world standards, the U.S. population has a very high standard of living. It is also true that our marriage rate is one of the highest in the world. And, although few people take pleasure in divorcing, so is our divorce rate.
Third, sociologists strive to be fair-minded; that is, they are motivated by a passion for truth. The third statement about African Americans and basketball is not good sociology for two reasons. First, it is simply not true, and, second, it seems motivated by bias rather than truth-seeking.
Good sociology, then, stands apart from harmful stereotyping. But a sociology course is an excellent setting for talking over common stereotypes. The classroom encourages discussion and offers the factual information you need to decide if a particular assertion is valid or just a stereotype.
Continue the debate . . .
1. Do people in the United States have stereotypes of sociologists? What are they? Are they valid?
2. Do you think taking a sociology course dispels people's stereotypes? Why or why not?
3. Can you cite a stereotype of your own that sociology challenges?
For more information on this topic, please visit these websites....
How Do Americans View One Another? The Persistence of Racial/Ethnic Stereotypes