Stereotypes

Stereotypes are specific ideas and assumptions which categorise individuals and their actions as a certain type. For example, If you see a young girl sitting outside the library with a book in hand, her hair falling across her glasses and is wearing a plain jersey and jeans. Your first thoughts may be along the lines of quiet, shy, intelligent, respectful.

This is stereotyping. Judging an individual on what you see and casting them as a certain type of person.
Everyone stereotypes at one time or another. We make assumptions and guess ideas about individuals. When we class them under a 'type' of person. I think that the main reason as to why we stereotype is to figure out who a person may be without actually talking to them.

The media uses stereotypes to get their message across. They use celebrities to portray a certain look for a certain type of person. For example we see Lady Gaga in her crazy Red Carpet outfits due to media capturing her and categorising her as a crazy, out there person, who seems to be always taking it to the next level. The media cast celebrities and different activities into certain catergories, as to say what is 'HOT' and what is 'NOT'. This is their way of presenting their message and views to the readers and watchers of media.