You are working in a doctor’s office and a local news story is playing in the waiting room. The story describes health disparities between men and women across different racial and class backgrounds.


You are working in a doctor’s office and a local news story is playing in the waiting room. The story describes health disparities between men and women across different racial and class backgrounds. The story spurs conversation among the patients in the waiting room, but it quickly escalates into a debate about who has good and bad health behaviors and why. You overhear a few patients make assumptions about how men are more “aggressive and physical” and how women are more “passive” and therefore less active. You hear others claim that these differences exist because “those” people are lazy and do not care about their health. Still, other patients respond by talking about access to quality healthcare.

2. Initial Post: Create a new thread and answer all three parts of the initial prompt below

  1. In your own words, explain what “stereotype” means.
  2. Explain one consequence of gender stereotyping.
  3. Explain one consequence of racial stereotyping.