Discussion

View the array of photographs by clicking on this link: Stereotype photos.

Choose two photos and individually create a list of commonly heard statements about the country/cultural group (3–5 comments per photo).

Week 1

Post the name of the photo you selected and your list of comments to the discussion for Week 1. Respond to the following:

• Identify the common or recurring themes elicited from others’ lists of comments about the photos and indicate if any of the ideas/themes surprised you. Which ones and why?
• Did you feel any were hurtful/insulting? What are most flattering?

Week 2

After identifying common themes in Week 1, engage in a class discussion around the following questions. Do not just line up the questions and answer them as if it were a short-answer test, but use them to guide your discussions.

• Where do you think these ideas and impressions of nationalities and identity groups come from? Why might these stereotypes be perpetuated?
• What can help dispel erroneous images that others have of your culture?
• As a leader in your organization, what do you need to do in regard to the images you have of others represented in the photos?