Terminology
This page is dedicated to those terms that may be a bit unfamiliar throughout the site. The definitions are gained from The Oxford Dictionary, with the dictionary examples in italic text.
Text in this font represents definitions and explanations added by myself in order to flesh out the dictionary definitions in order to relate them to the topic of stereotyping in the classroom.
Stereotype:
1. A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
‘the stereotype of the woman as the carer’
‘sexual and racial stereotypes’
2. A person or thing that conforms to a widely held but oversimplified image of the class or type to which they belong.
‘don't treat anyone as a stereotype’
Gender Role Stereotyping:
(Gender Role)1. The role or behaviour learned by a person as appropriate to their gender, determined by the prevailing cultural norms.
‘the emphasis on maintaining traditional gender roles’
Gender Role Stereotyping is the act of designating particular assumptions of activity, intelligence, personality, etc. on a person based on his or her gender.
Minority Role Stereotyping:
(Minority) 1.The smaller number or part, especially a number or part representing less than half of the whole.
‘only a minority of properties are rented’
‘those who acknowledge his influence are in the minority’
as modifier ‘a minority party’
Minority Role Stereotyping is the act of designating particular assumptions based on a groups ethnicity, race, religion, etc. These groups are commonly of the minority in the given population.
Self Efficacy:
(Efficacy) 1. The ability to produce a desired or intended result.
‘there is little information on the efficacy of this treatment’
Self Efficacy is a person's perceived ability to succeed at a given task. Having self efficacy means having confidence in your own ability to complete something, succeed at something, or excel at something.
Adolescence:
1. The period following the onset of puberty during which a young person develops from a child into an adult.
‘Mary spent her childhood and adolescence in Europe’
‘during adolescence teenagers often experience violent mood swings’
This definition relates directly to the adolescent society being discussed throughout this website. Those students we encounter in the middle and high school setting are going through many different changes, including physical, mental, and emotional.
Transgender:
1. Denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender does not correspond with their birth sex.
‘a transgender activist and author’
Students that may identify as a transgender are highly susceptible to experience gender role stereotyping. These students may be targeted by their peers and teachers should be aware of the possibility that these students may be experiencing anxiety, depression, or other emotional struggles.
Ethnicity:
1. The fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition.
‘the interrelationship between gender, ethnicity, and class’
A student's ethnicity can be directly targeted in a minority group stereotyping situation. This type of stereotyping targets students on student differences such as their ethnicity.
Minority population:
(Population) 1. All the inhabitants of a particular place.
‘the island has a population of about 78,000’
(Minority) 1.The smaller number or part, especially a number or part representing less than half of the whole.
‘only a minority of properties are rented’
‘those who acknowledge his influence are in the minority’
as modifier ‘a minority party’
This population, when thought about in the classroom environment, can be related to those students who are not in the majority of the class. So for example, an African American student in a predominantly white classroom is considered to be of the minority population.
Social identity:
(Social) 1.Relating to society or its organization.
‘alcoholism is recognized as a major social problem’
(Identity) 1.The fact of being who or what a person or thing is.
‘he knows the identity of the bombers’
2. The characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is.
‘he wanted to develop a more distinctive Scottish Tory identity’
In the adolescent world, social identity is crucial to survival in the school setting. Students often feel their social identity is the most important thing that defines them. A student's social identity may not even be decided by them, but by other students perceiving their actions, interactions, and even appearance.
Emotional well-being:
(Emotional) 1. Relating to a person's emotions.
‘gaining emotional support from relatives’
(Well-being) 1. The state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.
‘an improvement in the patient's well-being’
It is very important as an educator to be in tune with your students' emotional well-being. Look out for signs that students are not thriving emotionally, or may be struggling with depression or anxiety.
Depression:
1. A mental condition characterized by feelings of severe despondency and dejection, typically also with feelings of inadequacy and guilt, often accompanied by lack of energy and disturbance of appetite and sleep.
‘she was referred by a psychiatrist treating her for depression’
Students that are victimized by stereotyping in the adolescent society may become depressed due to the negative affects of stereotyping. Signs may not be evident at first, but teachers should keep an eye out for any telling characteristics.
Anxiety:
1. A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.
‘he felt a surge of anxiety’
Students that are victimized by stereotyping in the adolescent society may experience feelings of extreme anxiety due to the negative affects of stereotyping. Signs may not be evident at first, but teachers should keep an eye out for any telling characteristics.
Classroom Environment:
(Classroom) 1. A room in which a class of pupils or students is taught.
(Environment) 1.
The setting or conditions in which a particular activity is carried on.
‘a good learning environment’
It is crucial for teachers to create a positive and safe learning environment for their students. This begins with a positive classroom environment that promotes equal opportunity for all students in a non judgemental zone.