Stereotypes
Stereotypes can put serious limitations on people’s identities. If society accepts as fact,
certain things about you based solely on the “outer you” (I.e. You are a member of a certain
race, gender, ethnicity, or ability group), then how you are treated, what opportunities are
available to you, and how you can live your life may be significantly affected.
Stereotypes can be either positive or negative. For example, if you have a great meal that
happened to be prepared by an Italian chef at an Italian restaurant, you may decide that all
Italians are good cooks. Not necessarily true. On the other hand, one senior person appears
to be cranky, and speaks to you in a cranky tone, you may assume that all seniors are cranky
people. (A growing perception among youth and teens in the 20th Century).
Read the short story “X”by Lois Gould and answer the questions that follow.
Questions:
1. Does North American culture treat boys and girls differently? Give at
least 3 examples to support your answer.
2a. What do you like most about being a boy/girl?
2b. What doe you like least?
3. How would you feel if tomorrow you moved into a society that treated
boys and girls the same?
4. What point of view does the author use to tell this story? Is it an
effective choice? Explain.
5. Why does the story begin "One upon a time"? What does this imply
about the setting?
6. According to the story, how does gender shape our identity? What role
does society play in this?
7. What do you think the author's point is (theme)? Explain.