Clipmarks | Stereotypes Clips

Geography of Personality

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:03:04 GMT

clipped by: nhuguenin

The United States of Mind

Certain regional stereotypes have long since become cliches: The stressed-out New Yorker. The laid-back Californian.

You bet -- at least, according to new research on the geography of personality. Based on more than 600,000 questionnaires and published in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science, the study maps regional clusters of personality traits, then overlays state-by-state data on crime, health and economic development in search of correlations.

To make a king

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:33:41 GMT

clipped by: malaika99
clipper's remarks: Binyavanga Wainaina's excellent commentary on how we in Africa stereotype ourselves, turn our leaders into kings, and then act all surprised when it results in violence. It's worth reading the full article.

Clip Source: www.mg.co.za

To make a king

When I was in school, we learned that before colonialism we lived inside our cultures. Like tortoises. Those cultures had characteristics, things you could list like bullet points: nomads, banana-growers.

The book suggested that the Tutsi were a mysterious and special people.

They carried with them a sort of vague cultural Kingdom-forming software, which they applied wherever they went.

Human will and intelligence do not play much of a role in any of these transactions.

So we become cultural botanists: looking for characteristics -- and registering them and remaking them for the purposes of wearing traditional clothes at the Beijing Olympics

we speak of our neighbours as cultural artefacts, whose fate is decided by their immovable and unthinking stereotypes.

Then, some sort of violence breaks out, causing us to rush in and sensitise people to one another.

We trust them, because

in all media, more space is dedicated to their ideas and lives than to anything else

We make these kings

Tags: african politics

Race The Power of Illusion

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:17:36 GMT

clipped by: PrinceDanteRose

Clip Source: www.pbs.org

Although today such ideas are outmoded, it is still popular to believe in innate racial traits rather than look elsewhere to explain group differences. We all know the myths and stereotypes - natural Black athletic superiority, musical ability among Asians - but are they really true on a biological level? If not, why do we continue to believe them? Race may not be biological, but it is still a powerful social idea with real consequences for people's lives.

We also learn that many of our visual characteristics, like different skin colors, appear to have evolved recently, after we left Africa, but the traits we care about - intelligence, musical ability, physical aptitude - are much older, and thus common to all populations. Geneticists have discovered that 85% of all genetic variants can be found within any local population, regardless of whether they're Poles, Hmong or Fulani. Skin color really is only skin deep. Beneath the skin, we are one of the most similar of all species.

Tags: geog

United States of Mind

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:45:00 GMT

clipped by: Joshua Zumbrun
clipper's remarks: Very cool graphic presentation.

Clip Source: online.wsj.com

The United States of Mind

By STEPHANIE SIMON

Certain regional stereotypes have long since become cliches: The stressed-out New Yorker. The laid-back Californian.

But the conscientious Floridian? The neurotic Kentuckian?

Tags: stressed, new york, laid-back, california, neurotic, kentucky, conscientious, florida, sexy, washington dc

What I Like About Palin by David Warren The Ottawa Citizen

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 04:21:50 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: I cannot think of better illustrations of the way women and blacks are reduced to stereotype by the American media, and all the other institutions of "political correctness." We see the same thing up here in Canada, with respect to women and our "visible minorities." They must not deviate from a script in which every female role model is a feminist and abortion enthusiast, every "visible" the heroic victim of oppression, demanding societal compensation. How better to cripple the individual aspirations of women and minorities?

To them, the stark facts of Ms. Palin's reaction to a Down's syndrome pregnancy, and to her daughter's unseasonable one, shines as day to night against Mr. Obama's, "If my daughter makes a mistake, I don't want her punished with a baby."

But there is good news, which comes through Sarah Palin herself, who, from what I can see, is ready for the trial-by-ordeal.

Clip Source: www.canada.com

She is a woman in the old frontier American mould, whose spirit of independence is pre-feminist. And she is already connecting in a big way with the vast constituency of "Middle America," which has almost as much contempt for the mainstream media, as the MSM has for it.

To the people who work hard for a living; who pay taxes instead of collecting food stamps and subsidies; who face the vagaries of life with gratitude for existence, and take their lumps and setbacks in their stride; who raise multiple children instead of perhaps one designer child; who go to church on Sunday, and believe on Jesus; who volunteer for civic tasks, donate money to real charities, help each other materially in distress; who otherwise mind their own private business and expect others to mind theirs; and who, among other quaint customs, love the fresh air, and indulge such pleasures as hunting and fishing, through which they acquire a sense of stewardship over the land -- Sarah Palin is the bee's knees.

Tags: gov palin, sen obama, liberal media stereotypes, politically correct institutions

Nearly Every Kid is a Video Gamer

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:08:53 GMT

clipped by: edtechnnorris

Clip Source: news.yahoo.com

It's a common scenario, according to a new national survey from the Pew Internet & American Life Project that illustrates just how ingrained games have become in youth culture.

And they don't just play by themselves. Nearly two-thirds play video games to socialize face-to-face with friends and family, while just over a quarter said they play with Internet friends.

"It shows that gamers are social people," says Amanda Lenhart, a senior researcher at Pew who led the report on the survey. "They communicate just as much. They spend time face-to-face, just as much as other kids. They e-mail and text."

For this and other reasons, Ito cautioned parents against negative stereotypes about video games.

Has Governor Palin Shifted The Feminist Model?

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:25:32 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: She introduced her children, especially little Trig, the one with Down's syndrome. She was displaying a mother's unconditional love, as opposed to the conditional love that insists on a "wanted" child. She did these things unapologetically, quite unafraid of seeming to be a normal, healthy sexist female: one who knows what it is to be a woman and enjoys it.

The early feminists were radicals inspired by Simone de Beauvoir, who thought it necessary to show that all sex differences were bourgeois conventions or stereotypes.

Simone de Beauvoir had her guy in Jean-Paul Sartre, a high-strung couple if ever there was one.

Somehow the Palins make a better model for American women--for all women. In truth some sort of feminism was necessary, but the one we had needs a major correction.

Harvey Mansfield is professor of government at Harvard and a member of the Hoover Institution's Taskforce on Virtue and Liberty. He is the author, most recently, of Manliness.

Clip Source: www.forbes.com

Was feminism necessary to produce Sarah Palin's fine performance at the Republican Convention? She is of course no heroine to radical feminists, who disliked everything she said, but could one rightly say--could they say--that she is indebted to their brand of feminism for the opportunity she used so successfully? I'm speaking of the feminism that says that women can be equal to men only when they are held to be the same as men.

Sarah Palin was appealing and accomplished, with the force of a man and the grace of a woman. But while reaching another, higher first for women, she expressed no gratitude to the women's movement. She has had good words for women politicians like Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton, but she showed none of the features that betray the feminist in action. On the contrary: She spoke proudly of "my guy," grateful to the man who was hers--implying that she needed him, and that any woman needs a guy of her own.

Tags: gov palin, women's movement, feminists

Gender gaps suggested

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 13:59:29 GMT

clipped by: sarahevans

Clip Source: content3.clipmarks.com

As Barriers Disappear, Some Gender Gaps Widen

When men and women take personality tests, some of the old Mars-Venus stereotypes keep reappearing. On average, women are more cooperative, nurturing, cautious and emotionally responsive. Men tend to be more competitive, assertive, reckless and emotionally flat. Clear differences appear in early childhood and never disappear.

It looks as if personality differences between men and women are smaller in traditional cultures like India’s or Zimbabwe’s than in the Netherlands or the United States

The biggest changes recorded by the researchers involve the personalities of men, not women

Removing the stresses of traditional agricultural societies could allow men’s, and to a lesser extent women’s, more ‘natural’ personality traits to emerge

If he and Dr. Schmitt are right, then men and women shouldn’t expect to understand each other much better anytime soon. Things could get confusing if the personality gap widens further as the sexes become equal.

Tags: gendergaps

Pollie Waffles, Polly Waffles, Obama Waffles

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:28:08 GMT

clipped by: tdsmum
clipper's remarks: Pollie Waffles 2

http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/F34EF224-884F-44E3-A4DA-9F4F22000493/

Clip Source: ap.google.com

A box of Obama Waffles is seen in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008

Wearing white chef's aprons, Whitlock and DeMoss were doing a brisk business at noon Saturday selling the waffle mix to people crowded around their booth. Two pyramids of waffle mix boxes stood several feet high on the booth's table.

"It's the ultimate political souvenir," DeMoss told a customer.

Asked if he considered the pictures of Obama on the box to be racial stereotypes, Whitlock said: "We had some people mention that to us, but you think of Newman's Own or Emeril's — there are tons and tons of personality-branded food products on the market. So we've taken that model and, using political satire, have highlighted his policies, his position changes."

Clip Source: recipes.lovetoknow.com

Waffle recipes were some of first recorded breakfast foods. Alhough we know that the ancient Greeks made flat cakes between two metal plates, the word "waffle" actually comes from the Dutch word "wafel." This is probably the origin of the food as we know it.

Tags: waffle, obama waffles

Barriers shrink, gaps widen

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:44:11 GMT

clipped by: balthazarus
clipper's remarks: Interesting and counterintuitive results...

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

As Barriers Disappear, Some Gender Gaps Widen

It looks as if personality differences between men and women are smaller in traditional cultures like India’s or Zimbabwe’s than in the Netherlands or the United States

The biggest changes recorded by the researchers involve the personalities of men, not women

Removing the stresses of traditional agricultural societies could allow men’s, and to a lesser extent women’s, more ‘natural’ personality traits to emerge

Tags: gender

Nurture rather than nature keeps girls away from science

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:29:19 GMT

clipped by: balthazarus
clipper's remarks: Another study that stresses the importance of the ecology within one nurtures, as the key to what is considered available and possible.

Clip Source: www.sciencedaily.com

Tracking The Reasons Many Girls Avoid Science And Math

Most parents and many teachers believe that if middle-school and high-school girls show no interest in science or math, there's little anyone can do about it

attention should be given to building confidence in their abilities early in their education

"The relationship between confidence and interest is close," says Fouad. "If they feel they can do it, it feeds their interest."

The study confirmed that old stereotypes die slowly. Both boys and girls perceived that teachers thought boys were stronger at math and science. For boys this represented a support, while for girls it acted as a barrier.

Ultimately, it's perception, more than reality, that affects the person's academic and career choices, says Fouad.

Overall, however, parent support and expectations emerged as the top support in both subjects and genders for middle- and high-school students. Also powerful for younger girls were engaging teachers and positive experiences with them.

Tags: gender, math, science, education

EU takes shot at gender stereotypes

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:08:39 GMT

clipped by: spirithiker
clipper's remarks: It's about time.

Now the modeling industry needs to throw off the slavish idea that women need to be freakishly thin to be attractive.

We need to instill in our children, especially girls, that intelligence is admirable and subjugation is slavery.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

When members of the European Parliament voted last week to scold advertisers for "sexual stereotyping," they had some pretty obvious targets. One was a print ad for Dolce & Gabbana featuring a woman in spike heels pinned to the ground and surrounded by sweaty men in tight jeans.

The Parliament voted 504 to 110 to adopt a nonbinding report on gender stereotypes in advertising in an attempt to prod the industry to discuss the practice. That debate might well lead to legally binding legislation, according to Mary Honeyball, a British lawmaker and a member of the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee, which developed the report.

The concern, according to the committee report, is that stereotypes in advertising can "straitjacket women, men, girls and boys by restricting individuals to predetermined and artificial roles that are often degrading, humiliating and dumbed down for both sexes."

Tags: modeling, stereotypes

People are Defined by Their Taste in Music

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:56:36 GMT

clipped by: A53GG4

Clip Source: www.impactlab.com

People are Defined by Their Taste in Music

Fans of classical music and jazz are creative, pop lovers are hardworking and, despite the stereotypes, heavy metal listeners are gentle, creative types who are at ease with themselves.

So says Professor Adrian North of Scotland’s Heriot-Watt University who has been studying the links between people’s personalities and their choice of music. “People often define their sense of identity through their musical taste, wearing particular clothes, going to certain pubs, and using certain types of slang,” North said. “It’s not surprising that personality should also be related to musical preference.”

The study concluded that jazz and classical music fans are creative with good self-esteem, although the former are much more outgoing whereas the latter are shy.

Country and western fans were found to be hardworking and shy; rap fans are outgoing and indie lovers lack self-esteem and are not very gentle.

Tags: music

Musical taste "defines personality"

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:26:23 GMT

clipped by: Catshade

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

Fans of classical music and jazz are creative, pop lovers are hardworking and, despite the stereotypes, heavy metal listeners are gentle, creative types who are at ease with themselves.

So says Professor Adrian North of Scotland's Heriot-Watt University who has been studying the links between people's personalities and their choice of music.

The study concluded that jazz and classical music fans are creative with good self-esteem, although the former are much more outgoing whereas the latter are shy.

Country and western fans were found to be hardworking and shy; rap fans are outgoing and indie lovers lack self-esteem and are not very gentle.

Those who like soul music can take heart as the research concluded they are creative, outgoing, gentle, at ease with themselves and have a high self-esteem.

Those who choose to listen to exciting, punchy music are more likely to be in a higher earning bracket, he says, while those who go for relaxing sounds tend to be lower down the pay scale.

Tags: music, personality, taste, psychology

Musical taste "deines personality"

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:10:34 GMT

clipped by: thekay

Clip Source: news.yahoo.com

Musical taste "defines personality"

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Fans of classical music and jazz are creative, pop lovers are hardworking and, despite the stereotypes, heavy metal listeners are gentle, creative types who are at ease with themselves.

"People often define their sense of identity through their musical taste, wearing particular clothes, going to certain pubs, and using certain types of slang," North said.

"It's not surprising that personality should also be related to musical preference."

The study concluded that jazz and classical music fans are creative with good self-esteem, although the former are much more outgoing whereas the latter are shy.

Country and western fans were found to be hardworking and shy; rap fans are outgoing and indie lovers lack self-esteem and are not very gentle.

Those who like soul music can take heart as the research concluded they are creative, outgoing, gentle, at ease with themselves and have a high self-esteem.