According to the (online)
Oxford dictionary a STEREOTYPE is a widely held but fixed and oversimplified
image or idea of a particular type of person or thing (noun); or to view or
represent as a stereotype (verb).
Do stereotypes belong in
fiction? Yes AND No.
Stereotypes are a part of
real life. We use descriptions that are not necessarily derogatory and sometimes
they are belittling. We may use a shortcut in describing people: we saw the
Amish in Pennsylvania; he looked like a hippie; the Judge entered the courtroom;
or a gang of bikers passed us on the highway. Be honest, how many of these
statements invoked an automatic vision in your mind?
Many stereotypes exist
(in our minds) because of what we have experienced or heard, but they aren’t
necessarily true. In the neighborhood where I grew up there were two terrific pizzerias
both named for the individual owners, Tony’s and Frank’s — I admit to a
childhood belief that you had to be full blooded Italian in order to make good
pizza. We make assumptions and we’ve all heard what happens when we ASS-U-ME.
Using stereotypes in
stories can serve a purpose; stereotypes can provide a source of conflict. In
my novel Hyphema the main female character was a Pakistani Muslim immigrant who
moved with her American husband to a small southern town where not everyone
felt kindly about the hijab (head covering) she wore and a few even linked her
religion to post 9/11 sentiment. While Sudah, the character, was confronted by some
outright prejudice, the assumptions others made because of the difference
actually hid a much more dangerous threat.
If you are “stereotyping”
a character, as I did with Sudah’s head covering, remember that your character
needs more depth than the stereotype may allow for. I like to give all of my
major characters a history (how they grew up, their experiences, etc), even
minor characters should not be pigeon holed by an assumption. Use Method Character
(writing) for each person you put into your story, something motivates them,
something makes them different than others who may dress or look the same.
In historical fiction
there are certain realities to what was expected and accepted for different
gender, status and ethnic roles. But why write about a woman from the early
1900s who is submissive and stays at home to cook, clean and iron? Boring.
However introduce the otherwise docile woman who fought for the right to work at
jobs that only men previously held, wore shorter skirts, got involved in
political debates, and wasn’t concerned with marrying the first guy that came
along, and you will present a much more interesting character and story.
Use stereotypes to make your
audience expect one thing and then surprise them with a character that just can’t
be so easily categorized and your readers will want to keep turning the pages.
Writing Exercise: Free-write for 30 minutes. What stereotypes
do YOU fall under? Based on those stereotypes, negative or positive, how do you
feel about the values that affect those stereotypes?
Writing Prompt: Make a list of stereotypes that you grew up
with, next to each stereotype write one thing that changed your perspective.
Challenge
Assignment: Re-write a very important
time of your life but with one major difference — write as if you are somebody
else (change your gender, your ethnicity, your ability/disability, religion)
and write the events as that other person. How does that change the events?
