Understanding stereotypes
Key ideas
- Common stereotypes of people of the Northern Territory
- The significance and effect of stereotypes
Introduction
Along with the idea of being labeled as Australia's 'frontier', the Territory has many associated cultural stereotypes. Stereotypes attribute certain characteristics to a group of people, based upon the assumption that all the people in the group possess these characteristics. You'd be aware of the way in which stereotypes are used in movies and entertainment (cowboys, gangsters, religious people etc.). In that sort of field, they help to get a lot of ideas across in a short period of time. It is often easier to attribute people collectively with positive or negative characteristics rather than singling out one person and trying to explain what they are like.
Stereotypes have been around for a long time and in many ways it is human nature to 'shortcut' and use stereotypes as a way of categorising people. They are however both important and dangerous at the same time. They are a way of helping us to generalise the characteristics of groups of people, but we can also limit people by applying stereotypes inappropriately and in doing that don't allow them the room to be individuals.
Stereotypes can of course be harmful if they are wrong or portray a person or group incorrectly. You would have also seen this in the media, where groups of people are characterised negatively and individuals find it difficult to escape from under the labels. However, there is nothing wrong with stereotypes if they are embedded in reality and help promote the understanding of a group or process. In short, we must be careful in using stereotypes but still recognise that they can be useful in painting a picture of a person or group. They can (and should) all be questioned on the basis of right or wrong or positive or negative – it all depends on the context in which they are used.
Questionable stereotypes
If you've ever thought about Northern Territorians as beer-swilling blokes in blue singlets and black shorts, you've already had a taste of NT stereotypes. Of course people in the NT don't all operate and dress like that, but it is a generalisation that is in people's heads about the place, for better or for worse. Many people might be aware of the the stereotype that says that NT stands for 'not today' and 'not tomorrow', 'next Tuesday' or 'next Thursday' etc.. You'd have to wonder about the validity of that kind of stereotype, but something like that has some basis in real experience. All stereotypes have their basis in people's experience. It is just that often it is a problem when one person's experience is generalised to apply to a much larger group (particularly when this has been a negative experience). Looking at Territorian cultures, you will find a number of stereotypes including:
- yobbos
- southerners
- cowboys
- long grassers.
These stereotypes are of course questionable if they are used in derogatory ways, but bear in mind too that Territorians have often been described as:
- stoic
- courageous
- shrewd
- skilled
- tough
- resilient
- self-sufficient.
... so there are some examples where stereotypes can perhaps be quite flattering ( I wish I had some of those characteristics!).
Exercise
Write down three words that best describe you if you are a Northern Territorian? If you live elsewhere, what are the characteristics you see as those being held by people who live here in the NT?
How accurate and appropriate do you think the general versions of stereotypes of people are in the NT?
Masculinity
You will also find that Territory history and culture is very masculine. Why is that? You will find many images and stories which depict images of the need for a development of the untamed northern frontier and images of the need for man's control over nature.
Reflection
Why do you think the history of the NT has such strong masculine overtones?
Keep this in mind as you work through the material in this unit.