Tessa perkins

Tessa Perkins

Tessa Perkins (1979) made 5 assumptions about stereotyping and how it isn’t a simple process. These are her assumptions
• 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.


To what extent do you agree with these assumptions?

I agree with Tessa Perkins first assumption. They are most commonly negative, but on the odd occasion they can be positive towards certain stereotypes, for example, the French are known to be mardy, but they are also known to be great chiefs.

Next, I also agree about her second assumption. Stereotyping isn’t always about minority group’s evidence here being the statement 'upper class twits'.


I agree with her third assumption but it only happens in rare cases, it is very uncommon for someone be stereotyping themselves, unless it’s a positive stereotype or as a joke/sarcasm. For example teenagers label themselves being ‘hoodies’.

Her next assumption I totally agree with, stereotypes are forever changing. We know this true evidence of this being the cloth cap worker of the 1950's became the 1980's 'consumerist home-owner who holidays in Spain'. This shows that stereotypes can change in a space of time. We have also seen this with teenagers. During World War II teenagers were respected and were well respected young adults who helped out the community. This has now changed to teenagers being trouble making criminals. This is because of the recent activity of teenagers, and the media have highlighted that many criminals are teenagers.

Finally Tessa Perkins last assumption “They are not always false” I pretty much fully agree with. For example British people talking in the Queen’s English, this is true in some cases but not always true. old people are stereotyped to be moody and grumpy. Cook from skins is seen as a trouble making teenager, who drinks, smokes and takes drugs, this is characterised as much as possible to make the audience react to this.