This day in 2000, the Oxford Dictionary recognised and introduced "stereotype" as a word meaning - a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
Sixteen years later, we find ourselves in the midst of a debate - are we stereotyping stereotype? Is this word even necessary? Should stereotyping be banned? We asked some people who have used this word tenaciously, about whether stereotype should be erased from our dictionary. This is what they had to say.
Priyanka Chopra
Word usage: I don't like doing stereotypical roles
"Stereotype is a convenient punch word to use at times (laughs) but I hate it when people use it without knowing its proper usage. When I say I don't like to take up roles that end up stereotyping me, I mean I am strictly against playing a dainty model, a good looking actress or even a fashionista without brains. That's not me. And I don't we to fall into any bracket."
Typecast is a serious issue. We shouldn't bracket people under some category just because of some habits they portray.
Mandira Bedi
Word usage: I hate it when people stereotype women
"I totally mean it.. Just because we are women, we are expected to act in a given manner. We are not supposed to do things that men do, not supposed to sit like that, speak like that and behave gently all the time. A society with such stereotypes is only regressive not progressive."
Say no to stereotypes!
Mahesh Bhatt
Word usage: I don't like stereotyping my actors.
"I use stereotyping to mean "usual". In a movie, if you don't tweak your characters and give them a different feel, what's the point of doing a film?"
Stereotype as a word is good, maybe we should use it less often though .
Youth Reporters Say Not The Word But Mindset Needs To Change
Happy birthday Stereotype. There is no problem with the word, people have to change. Their mindsets have to change. To stereotype or no is under our control. Why blame the word for it?
Ashotosh Misha, class X I, Amity International
Stereotyping is bad, it is a reflection of our society. The solution is not to erase the word. We should stop stereotyping to make the world a better place. No two things, two habits can ever be grouped under the same category.
Ritika Bhasin, class VIIIB, St Mary Convent, Kolkata
I hate it when people bring in gender stereotypes in their conversation. What has being a man or a woman to do with how we behave/interact? This is a bad habit but the mistake lies in us. Not the word.
Deepika Singh, class X, Sanskriti School
I cannot believe that people still use cultural stereotypes such as "you are Bengali, you must love fish". It's so silly to even suppose that. Such ideas and generalisations need to stop. If we are stereotyping, means we have still not evolved.
Rohit Dasgupta, La Martinere School, Kolkata
Do You Agree That Stereotyping Is In Bad Taste? How Can We Help In Not Typecasting? Let Us Know In The Comments Below.