commit to user 32
D. Stereotypes of Islam Muslims
1. Stereotypes
Traditionally, stereotyping has been conceived as both a cause and a consequence of prejudice Allport as cited in Kawakami et.al, 1997, p. 1. The
activation of stereotype is closely related to prejudice existed in the society. The existence of prejudice toward a member of a group will affect how people
characterize the group. This characterization of an individual based on its group’s characteristics is then called as stereotype. Stereotyping is an important aspect in
social interaction because stereotypes provide the images that make everyone in the group alike. In short, stereotypes are collections of traits or characteristics
that present members of a group as being all the same. According to Walter Lippman 1922, stereotype is called
as “maps of the world”. This exemplifies the universal human inclination to categorize. The
individuals are placed into groups and then the perceived characteristics of the group, then the stereotypes, are imputed to those individuals as cited in Sides
Gross, 2011, p. 3. In other words, stereotypes are generalizing and simplifying the categorizations of a group based on the image of a group’s member. These
become the nature of stereotypes in which an individual is being labeled with some negative images which is gain instantly from a short overview. Therefore,
stereotypes get hold of the few simple, vivid, memorable, easily grasped, and
commit to user 33
widely recognized characteristics about a person, reduce everything about the person to those traits, exaggerate and simplify them, and fix them without change
or development to eternity Hall as cited in Merskin, 2004, pp. 160-161. Walter Lippmann in his book Public Opinion identified that there are four
characteristics of stereotypes: a.
Simple. Stereotypes are simpler than reality so that it is capable of being
summarized in only two or three sentences. b.
Acquired secondhand. People acquire and absorb stereotypes from cultural mediators rather than
from their own direct experience with the groups being stereotyped. The culture “distills” reality and then expresses its beliefs and values in
stereotypical images which convince audiences of the “truth” of the stereotype by placing it in a carefully controlled context.
c. Erroneous
All stereotypes are false. They are attempts to claim that each individual human being in a certain group shares a set of common qualities. Since an
individual is different from all other individuals, stereotypes are logical impossibility.
d. Resistant to change
as cited in Nachbar Lause, 1990, p. 243
commit to user 34
Furthermore, Jack Nachbar and Kevin Lause in their book Popular Culture: an Introductory Text stated that stereotype is a standardized conception or image
of a specific group of people or objects. Stereotypes force a simple pattern upon a complex mass and assign a limited number of characteristics to all members of a
group. In popular culture, the characteristics used in stereotyping an individual are age, sex, race, religion, vocation, and nationality. While, objects can be
stereotyped based on the characteristics of places and things 1990, pp. 236-237. Consequently, the impact of stereotyping is dangerous. It is written by Nancy
Nielsen, Vice President of Corporate Communications at The New York Times Company, that stereotyping can lead the public to create social scapegoats and
focus on the wrong issues and wrong priorities. Besides, misleading characterizations can be picked up by the global news services and satellite
systems, which have the power to perpetuate the distortion and could fuel further conflict as cited in Shaheen, 1997, p. 33. In addition, Nielsen also stated that the
stereotypical images presented in global news media will affect how people understand different ethnic and religious groups. Stereotypes can profoundly
affect the way people understand or misunderstand their world, their safety, their options, and their future as cited in Shaheen, 1997, p. 33.
commit to user 35
2. Stereotypes of Islam Muslims
Kategori