A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and “prejudice” are often confused with many other different meanings. Stereotypes are standardized and simplified conceptions of groups based on some prior assumptions. (Wikipedia.com)
Stereotypes act like codes that give audiences a quick, common understanding of a person or group of people—usually relating to their class, ethnicity or race, gender, sexual orientation, social role or occupation.
Besides that, stereotypes can be problematic:
· reduce a wide range of differences in people to simplistic categorizations
· transform assumptions about particular groups of people into "realities"
· be used to justify the position of those in power
· perpetuate social prejudice and inequality
The media often uses and misrepresents stereotypes. Foe examples, character such as Apu in TV shows, the Simpsons, are a high discriminated and stereotyped. Apu is characterized as an Indian immigrant, who prays to Ganesh, and hold a highly noticeable and dissimilar accent. This is a stereotype which is watch by a large number of audience especially the young. Young children observed and perceived as humorous. They apply this knowledge towards those they meet in real-life. Audiences of this show believe this information to be completely accurate for they hold litter or no knowledge about that particular group. 
For another example, the movies of Shrek are an animation film that related with fairy tales. I believe plenty of young children had been told fairy tale as bedtime story. They also enjoy watching animation and cartoon movies. During that age, kids always believe in what they been observes. Some of them were depth ‘poison’ by those happily ever after ending, and causing them to become unreality and live in fantasy world which full with prince and princes, castle, crown, stepmother and so on. The movies of Shrek show a different stereotype in common fairy tales animations which in the end, princess choose the ogre but not the prince a. This movie also show all the true of fairy tales such as Sleeping Beauty can’t fall asleep after slept for hundreds of years, or Prince Charming is only good looking but in bad character, and etc. Lately, more and more animation shows the overturn of fairy tale stereotype such as Enchanted and Tangle. These movies show that princess did not choose marry to a prince or a warrior, and princess can be brave in fighting to rescued their love one.
I know that once we get relieve of one stereotype, another will take its place. I think it is important that people are able to recognize the stereotypes. The schools should educate children about the stereotypes that exist in society and one should understand them. This is to not reproduce the existing of stereotype and also will not except everything what they see in movie, internet and magazine for pure true.
i am agree with your point, but this is not only teachers responsibility. Parents also playing an important pole because children most of the time together with their parents. some time parents bring their childs to watch movie and guide thier children surf internet. It will make them got a lot of chance and time to guide their children.School and parents have responsibility to educate kids, in addition , Schools and parents should pay more attention to and raise the children, do not let them hooked in media stereotype.
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