Three Types of Stereotyping

Three Types of Stereotyping

By Cecelia A. Wall

PHI.103 Informal Logics

Instructor Ian McDougall

December 9, 2013

Where does stereotyping come from? The Webster dictionary defines stereotyping as “a group of people based on appearance, and behavior. (Webster dictionary, 2013) In a recent Ethic and responsibility class the author mosser argues that the theory of relativism propose society learns his behavior from parent’s, cultural, and community.(Mosser,2010) In this paper I will attempt to display how I dealt with stereotyping in the workplace, social, and personal environment by discussing these fallacy’s Poisoning the well, straw man and Hasty generalization.

The fallacy poisoning the well which is defined by Nizor as stating untruthful language about an individual; which later might be presented as false information about that person. As I have discussed in a recent post I was an assistant Teacher in the small town I reside in for nine years. My job in this field was both rewarding and disheartening at times mentally, physically, and socially for several reason. In working with the public it is a requirement of one not being sensitive or easy stirred with emotions?

When working as an asst. this fallacy was displayed many times during my last three years of service. I considered and portrayed myself as a stern, loving, caring and considered colleague, teacher to the children who were in my classroom to learn the basic skills of kindergarten education. I always felt that the children need a firm stern loving teacher whom did not have any tolerance to bad behavior within the classroom.

But, I also felt these young children whom for some have never been away from their parents and in a new environment and around new people need to know that we cared as teachers and assistants and cared for them as if they were our own children because they were for 7 and half hours.

For Instance, One day a particular child had gotten into trouble for misbehaving in the line while going to lunch with the teacher. This child stopped acting out for a while and began again in the line to go to the restroom. I asked the child to step out of line and stand next to me and she was the last one to use the restroom. The child went home and told her parents that I did not let her go to the restroom and called her a dog name. The parent came to school to discuss what the child told the parent.

The principal of my school talked with me about what happened with the child in the form of the fallacy poisoning the well. The teacher and I discussed with the parent and principal and reminded them both of the rules of the classroom and the consequences. The parent told the child that she did not have