by Annie Matthews, Education Coordinator, USA on stereotypes
What is a stereotype? Originially stereotype was a term used in printing newspapers. It was a copy used to reproduce or duplicate an original over and over again. These days stereotype is a word meaning to make a generalization of an individual, group, or community. In basic terms to stereotype is to assume something without knowing for sure.
Every semester the education team puts together a workshop called “Barcodes”. Just like information copied onto every item at a store that represents information about items in a category. All packages of a certain type of product have identical barcodes. Unlike items at a store, all people from one country, region, or area do not have the same barcode. No one is exactly the same as another. The workshop includes putting pieces of paper around a room with countries written at the top of them. The cast is then given time to go around and write words, phrases, lyrics, or even draw pictures of things they think of when they hear about that country.
Francious from Quebec reads stereotypes about Canada
After a time the Cast breaks up into their country groups to read what was written on their country’s paper. Then each country is given time in front of the cast to answer questions like “What was the most suprising thing written about your country?” and “What is one thing you would want people to know about your country?”
After all of this the cast is then given time to think about stereotypes about themselves. They are given time talk to fellowcast mates about who they are as individuals and explain how they personally feel about stereotypes about themselves.
“I am proud of who I am but I am not perfect” Toni, USA
“I am a Christian but I am not an intolerant person” Christin, Germany
“I am a woman but I am not a feminist. I am an equalist.” Laura Lynn, USA
“I am a scout but I do not eat worms” Frederike, Germany
“I am a Belgian but I don ‘t like beer” Olivia, Belgium
“I am sensitive but I am not weak” Maurine, Belgium
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Re: Barcodes
We did a similar activity within our cast (A 97-98). I remember 2 of our staff members getting up in the middle of the discussions and “picked a fight” it was staged, but no one knew it was staged. I should mention that one of the staff members was white, the other black. Everyone’s reactions were real, even if the “fight” wasn’t.