Stereotypes

Stereotypes of Racial, Ethnic, and Sexual Orientation Minorities

Consider the meanings and connotations of terms like “hoodlum,” “beaner,” “towel-head,” and “fag.” These terms are often used with negative undertones and are related to the racial and ethnic, and sexual minority stereotypes that exist in society. Although these terms, independent of other factors, are relatively harmless, the stereotypes they imply may lead to crimes against racial, ethnic, and sexual orientation minorities.

For example, in the cases discussed in the Weekly Introduction, police officers assumed Diallo and Bell to be “suspicious” and armed. These assumptions then led officers to shoot and kill both Diallo and Bell. In the public outcry that surrounded both of these incidents, many argued that Diallo and Bell were victims because of racial stereotypes and assumptions made on the basis of skin color.

For this Discussion, you select a current news story from print or media(no more than 5 years old) that involves a crime committed against an individual or group related to racial and ethnic, and/or sexual orientation stereotypes.

Post by Day 4 a description of the news story you selected. Then explain how racial or ethnic stereotypes may have contributed to the victimization. Finally, explain at least one strategy that might reduce stereotypes contributing to the victimization of racial and ethnic minorities. Support your response with references to the literature and the Learning Resources.

One and a half page with at least two reference….

It is important that you cover all the topics identified in the assignment. Covering the topic does not mean mentioning the topic BUT presenting an explanation from the readings.

To get maximum points you need to follow the requirements listed for this assignments 1) look at the page limits 2) review and follow APA rules 3) create SUBHEADINGS to identify the key sections you are presenting and 4) Free from typographical and sentence construction errors.

READINGS

• Course Text: Investigating Difference: Human and Cultural Relations in Criminal Justice
  • Chapter 2, “Conceptualizing Difference”
  • Chapter 3, “Privilege and the Construction of Crime”
  • Chapter 5, “Social Class, Crime, and Justice”
  • Chapter 18, “Fairness in the Courts: Investigating and Addressing Race, Ethnic, and Gender Bias”
• Article: Black, P. J., & Kari, C. J. (2010). Policing diverse communities: Do gender and minority status make a difference? Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice, 8(3), 216–229.
• Article: Herek, G. M. (2009). Hate crimes and stigma-related experiences among sexual minority adults in the United States: Prevalence estimates from a national probability sample. Journal of Interpersonal Violence,24(1), 54–74.
• Article: Lieberman, M. (2010). Hate crime laws: Punishment to fit the crime. Dissent (00123846), 57(3), 81–84.
• Article: Stacey, M., Carbone-López, K., & Rosenfeld, R. (2011). Demographic change and ethnically motivated crime: The impact of immigration on anti-Hispanic hate crime in the United States. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 27(3), 278–298.

• Article: Ellis, L., & Say, L. (2011). Hate crime regulation and challenges. Georgetown Journal of Gender & the Law, 12(3), 367–383.
• Article: Love, E. (2009). Confronting Islamophobia in the United States: Framing civil rights activism among Middle Eastern Americans. Patterns of Prejudice, 43(3/4), 401–425.
• Article: Miller, L. L. (2010). The invisible black victim: How American Federalism perpetuates racial inequality in criminal justice. Law & Society Review, 44, 805–842.
• Article: Saucier, D. A., Brown, T. L., Mitchell, R. C., & Cawman, A. J. (2006). Effects of victims’ characteristics on attitudes toward hate crimes. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21, 890–909.
• Article: Zaykowski, H. (2010). Racial disparities in hate crime reporting. Violence and Victims, 25(3), 378–394.
• Web Article: Strauss, V. (2011). Anti-bullying legislation attacked for allowing bullying. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/anti-bullying-legislation-attacked-for-allowing-bullying/2011/11/05/gIQARflapM_blog.html
• Web Article: Transgender Nation. (1998). GLOV LGBT module handout on transgendered persons for DC Metropolitan Police Department, DC Fire Department, & Emergency Medical Services diversity sensitivity training program. Retrieved from http://www.glaa.org/resources/transinf.shtml