Question

Explain stereotyping, how it works, and the challenges it poses in the workplace.

Answer 1

The word Stereotype has Greek origins (Stereos means solid/hard/massive and Typos mean pattern or impress). The term was coined by Walter Lippmann, who also developed the social theory revolving around the term. Lippmann defined stereotyping as a projection on the world of one's (personal) sense of own values, positions, and/or rights. Lipmann compared stereotypical behavior to visualizing the world through a colored, for instance, green window, so that everything appears to be green. In modern psychology, stereotypes are defined as the simplified imaginations, perceptions, and beliefs that may be judgemental/emotional, are often shared by members of communities or groups, and are expressed in a symbolic, figurative, and verbal fashion. Stereotypes may not always be negative. For instance, a stereotype may provide a person clues about behaving in a given situation when in contact and conversation with a particular social community or group.

But at workplaces and in professional instances, stereotypes are often "a law of less effort", as described by G. Allport. People may randomly assign a particular trait or attribute to a whole community without probing deeper. For instance, Asians may be stereotyped as being less laborious/masculine by certain individuals and groups at the western workplaces.
The presence of stereotyping in the workplace poses several challenges. A challenge is posed to employability itself. Stereotypes may influence the perception of an employee and will lead to bias in the storage, processing, or remembering of information related to his/her behavior and traits. For instance, a stereotypical thought may regard emotional, affectionate, and delicate women to be unfit for any managerial position ( the manager job may be regarded as a profession for males in certain communities and regions). Physical attractiveness and its fruitfulness towards job role and in carrying out of responsibilities may be another stereotype affecting hiring and employability. People often have a perception that what looks good would be good at the job as well. Denying the realities and improper analysis of qualifications and experience may lead to wrong choices while hiring, which deteriorates the organizational performance and success rates later on.

When the thoughts are not checked and deeper analysis is not done, stereotyping may also cause other issues. For instance, a deserving person may be denied a higher position or promotion because of certain stereotypical perceptions being carried at the workplace regarding his/her ethnicity or community, among other aspects.

Stereotypes related to disability, age, gender, and other employees' attributes and traits may also be common at workplaces, albeit to varying extents. These perceptions do not allow good talent to stay at the workplace, increase the turnover rates and lower the retention rate. All of these culminates into greater expenditures and loss of competitiveness.

Information and data are transferred across the regions of the globe at a much faster pace now because of the internet and new and advanced communication technologies. Stereotypical approaches at the workplace deteriorate the external as well as an internal image of the company. Stereotypes reduce employee morale and confidence, which may result in esoteric attitudes and environment at the workplace and mar cooperation and collaboration. The market and public reputation of the company are also affected adversely when the community gets to be aware of such practices.

Diversity is an important trait that all competitive organizations possess. Stereotypes work against diversity and therefore are harmful to creative and innovative thoughts/culture. People from certain communities or possessing certain traits may not get the appreciation, respect, and opportunities they deserve in the presence of stereotypical attitudes and culture. With increasing competition and the business environment getting increasingly global, no company can hope to achieve sustainable growth and success in the absence of talent and innovative personalities/ideas, which are fostered by diversity. Hence stereotypes not only adversely affect the present but also harm the future potential and success scope of a company.