Elisabeth Hasselbeck had some surprisingly logical things to say regarding gay marriage on this morning’s The View.
A conservative through-and-through, the perky chatter-box may have made a few enemies among her Republican comrades – especially the married folk.
(Thanks for the link, Good As You. Our first born totally has your name on it.)
kamasutrajones
I’m so sick and tired of the gay liberal left assuming that every conservative is anti-gay, including Elisabeth. It IS possible to be conservative and pro-gay. Just as it is possible to be liberal and anti-gay. In fact, some of the most coy homophobic commentary I’ve ever heard is from the liberals at my job. I’m glad that Elisabeth was allowed and able to show this, now that Rosie the cow is gone. We really need to stop stereotyping conservatives, just as we want them to stop stereotyping us. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Ash
Sorry, but putting an end to conservative stereotypes ain’t high on my priority list.
Gregoire
Yeah, we’ll get right on that, kama.
cjc
I assume every conservative is anti-gay unless otherwise proven, just like I assume every blond white girl I meet is stupid, unless otherwise proven. Stereotypes make life fun.
afrolito
Stereotypes don’t make life for those stereotyped “fun”, but they do make those who stereotype look pretty stupid.
grey_sea
Stereotypes are a system of associated information that are more useful in some aspects of life than others. It isn’t the fact that some concept like “Republican” or “Gay” is stereotyped that is concerning because of course they would be, it’s how much emphasis we put on them as some sort of truism. I may not agree with Elizabeth on many issues (although I really am not interested in watching the View regularly, so I can’t say for sure) I certainly disagree with Ash in their disinterest in the “republican” stereotype.
Allen
Well, I’ll say this, since y’all are exceptionally uptight today.
Good for Elizabeth and for her views on gay marriage! It’s always a good thing to have someone in our corner, regardless of what political side they are on!
Martini-boy
Stereotypes are common in that they are ‘schemas’ – or systems of thought – that allow us to characterize individuals and make it easier for us to relate to them: UNLESS they prove to us that they do not fit into our stereotyped notion of them. In this case, we have two options (and these are psychological terms, folks):
First off, we can ACCOMMODATE the new information (the “non-stereotypical” information) to construct a new schema about the individual we have just encountered. This will make us shed our stereotype and relate to this person in a new way.
OR,
We can continue on with the stereotypes – what is called ASSIMILATION – and make this person fit into them no matter what. If we follow this second scenario, then we are just being assholes.
Let’s be nice, now.
cjc
Sorry, folks, I had just come from Wonkette before reading this and the snarkiness had infected me. I can’t help myself and when people aren’t able to read sarcasm. Jeebus, you people need to do what I did today–take some Lortab. It makes everything better.
Martini-boy
An emoticon would have clarified the ambiguity – and potential truth – to your words.
cjc
Emoticons are for 9-year-olds.
thatguyfromboston
that’s some powerful funny! thanks for making me laugh this morning.
grey_sea
What you’re saying is true Martini-Boy. Although, I would rely more on prototype theory and exemplar theory rather than schema theory to explain stereotypes.
Also, I would question the almost conscious nature you’ve presented. Stereotypes, I would wager, are mostly implicit forms of knowledge beyond consciousness. So, to assimilate someone into a stereotype doesn’t necessarily make someone an asshole.
Also, accommodating new information doesn’t necessarily negate the previous stereotypes, they could consider them an exception or exemplar somehow. And probably a continuum of combinations between those two functions is possible.
However, all that raises the question of ethics in regards to automatic judgments and how accountable we are. It’s an interesting topic, for sure đ