Stereotypes: The
Besides,
Moroccan Case
Stereotypes are qualities assigned to
groups of people related to their race,
nationality, and/or sexual orientation. They are,
therefore, generalizations about a group of
people whereby we attribute a defined set of
characteristics. In Morocco, for example, racial
groups are linked to stereotypes such as being
good at math and physics. People of Errachidia
and its surroundings is a case in point. But are
all people of Errachidia good at math? Its a
generalization because we can find people
there who are bad at these subjects. A person
can also make a generalization about an ethnic
group that hasnt been integrated in society.
It is largely said in Morocco that people
who come from the Sahara are good, gentle,
and hospitable; but we can find bad people as
well as good ones. Similarly, we hear that
Saharans are more attracted to fat women
than to slim ones. This is an overgeneralization
because we can find Saharan men attracted to
slim and fit girls in contrast of this stereotype.
It is well known that when boys talk to girls
whom they believed to be physically attractive,
they communicate in a more positive and
friendlier manner than those who believe they
are talking to unattractive girls. People of
Rabat are accused of being untrustworthy.
It is widely said in Morocco that Rabatis
tend to give wrong directions when asked for a
place. I have visited there many times and
experienced such behavior on one occasion,
but the second time, I asked an elderly and
was shown the right direction. So, we shouldnt
take this prejudice as a fixed truth.
that all men like sports, listening to news, and
that women are not as strong as men are
common stereotypes not only in our society,
but in other societies as well. Moreover, there
are stereotypes related to gender. For example,
men are all the same: rjal kolhoum bhalbhal,
or in other words, all men are wolves. This is a
label that many women adopt because of a
failed experience they have had with an ex-
boyfriend. Young people, by their turn, have
many prejudices. However,bentnass doesnt
exist anymore; this was said to ask, why didnt
you get married yet?
Sociologists suggest that stereotypes are
the result of conflict, poor parenting, and
inadequate mental and emotional
development. They are shared because they
are the result of a common environment. Some
psychologists say that stereotypes are usually
acquired in early childhood under the influence
of parents, teachers, peers, and the media.
Some psychologists say that stereotypes
are usually acquired in early childhood under
the influence of parents, teachers, peers, and
the media. A number of studies have found
that stereotypes are activated automatically.
Patricia Grace Devine, a professor of
psychology at the university of Wisconsin-
Madison, for example, suggests that
stereotypes are automatically activated in the
presence of a member of a stereotyped group.
Besides, we stereotype people when we are
unable or unwilling to obtain all of the
information we need to make a fair judgment
about them or their situations. That is to say,
we just fill in the missing pieces of information due to carelessness, bad habits, and lack of
since we dont have a total picture. Labeling is critical thinking skills.

Edited by Katrina Bushko