Tessa Perkins - Stereotypes

To what extent do you agree with Tessa Perkins' 5 assumptions? Explain your anbswers and refer to stereotypes in TV drama.

Tessa Perkins believes that:
• Stereotypes are not always negative (e.g. 'The French are good cooks').
• They are not always about minority groups or the less powerful ( e.g. 'upper class twits').
• They can be held about one's own group.
• They are not rigid or unchanging ( e.g. the "cloth cap worker of the 1950's became the
1980's 'consumerist home-owner who holidays in Spain').
• They are not always false

Tessa Perkins first assumption is something that I would definitely agree with. Most people do see stereotypes as being against a group of people doing something that is in the wrong, but that's not the case in all circumstances. For example in many children's films or TV shows, a prince is normally always stereotyped as being a tall, dark, handsome man who you can always rely on to save another character. This type of stereotyping is clearly a positive, proving that Tessa Perkins first assumption is true.

I also agree with Tessa Perkins second assumption of 'they are not always minority groups or the less powerful that get stereotyped. I can agree with this because countries a lot of the time stereotype other countries, as in Americans always being obese, or English always drinking tea and wearing posh clothes, which clearly would be for the upper class people in the country. Relating to a TV drama, someone like Janine Butcher in Eastenders, who inherited a lot of money from passed away relatives became upper class but still gets stereotyped as a snobby, stuck-up woman that not many people around the square like that much.

Tessa's assumption could also be stated correct for the point she made of 'stereotypes can be made about ones own group.' I say this because not every stereotype is seen as something offensive or in the wrong, groups of friend can use stereotyping as a sense of humor, or something that isn't taken to heart. Relating to TV, in the film Kick-Ass, the three main characters Dave, Marty and Todd all admit that they aren't the cool kids in school and all have a lack of social life. This stereotype is between a group of close friends, and is something that isn't taken offensively.

I disagree with Tessa's fourth assumption that stereotypes haven't changed through time, mainly because a lot of stereotypes are based on what a person or a certain group of people are wearing, and fashion has changed and is changing a ridiculous amount each decade. At the beginning of the 20th century, the poor were seen as people who worked all day and night and earnt very little money, whilst the rich were seen as snobs that only socialised with other rich people. In the 21st century, all different kinds of people socialise and earn different amounts of money depending on what they do, and no wage is unfair. Also, in the past few years many groups of youths have been associated with being called 'chavs', this term instantly gives a person or group a bad name, and makes others think very little of them, and that they're out to steel or cause trouble.

Finally, Tessa Perkins assumption of 'Stereotypes are not always false' in some sense is true, but only in one or two circumstances. For example in superhero movies such as Spiderman, Superman and Batman, the main character is stereotyped as being the character who saves the day, and always turns out the hero at the end of the film. This is a stereotype which is not false. But in most situations stereotypes are false, about things such as countries and certain groups of people. Not all Americans are fat, not all French people are good cooks and can paint, and not everybody in Scotland eat haggis and wear kilts! So Tessa's final assumption can be seen as true to a certain extent