Title: How Does Stereotyping Affect Relationships? | Our Everyday Life
Headings: How Does Stereotyping Affect Relationships?
How Does Stereotyping Affect Relationships?
Gender Stereotypes
Racial and Ethnic Stereotypes
Stereotypes and Aging
Long-Term Effects

Content: Expectations based on gender can pressure people to behave in ways that make them uncomfortable, creating strained connections with others. For example, a man might not feel comfortable showing affection toward others for fear that they will think of him as less of a "man." Racial and Ethnic Stereotypes
Assumptions based on race and ethnicity are some of the most pervasive stereotypes in society. Discrimination can lead to police-initiated traffic stops and prison sentences, for example, according to "Gender and race: How overlapping stereotypes affect our personal and professional decisions," a study by Columbia University researchers. Racial and ethnic stereotypes overlap with gender stereotypes to the extent that they influence romantic relationships, the research found. For instance, the more a man is attracted to femininity, the more likely he is to be attracted to an Asian woman -- stereotyped as meek and passive -- and the less likely he is to be attracted to an African-American woman -- stereotyped as aggressive and outspoken. Stereotypes and Aging
Stereotypes regarding age include the assumptions that the elderly are forgetful and frail, and that younger individuals are naive and do not know what is best for themselves. In either case, their feelings and opinions are minimized, which can cause decreased self-confidence and sense of autonomy. A teenager might feel frustrated and angry if someone tells him to stop taking a dating relationship seriously.