Tessa Perkins Rethinking Stereotypes

Perkins argued that we needed to rethink our views on stereotypes and to acknowledge the 'truth' contained in them. She wanted us to think whether


1. Stereotypes are always erroneous in content
2. They are pejorative concepts
3. They are about groups with whom we have little or no social contact; by implication they are not held about one's own group.
4. They are about minority (or oppressed) groups 
5. They are simple
6. They are rigid and do not change
7. They are not structurally reinforced
8. The existence of contradictory stereotypes is evidence that they are erroneous but nothing else
9. People either 'hold' stereotypes (believe them to be true) or do not
10. Because someone holds a stereotype of a group, his or her behaviour towards the group can be predicted.