Media Smarts: Gender and Racial Stereotypes

November 4, 2020 — Diane Skinner

Sadly, there is still a great deal of racial and gender stereotyping in the media. This is not necessarily outright racism and misogynism (a hatred, dislike, or mistrust of women). However, stereotypes can be harmful but are not as obvious. Stereotypes are ideas that people may have about a certain person, or group that may often be untrue or only partly true. 

Have you ever gone to a fast-food restaurant that gives away a free toy for children? The staff will ask “Is the toy for a boy or a girl?” The boy’s toy may be a truck, while the girl’s a small stuffed animal. We know that there are lots of girls who would prefer a truck and boys who would like to have that stuffed animal. This is stereotyping. It sounds like a small thing – but it creates a ‘self-fulfilling prophecy.’ A self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when a message is put out and then it becomes reality because people believe it. In this case boys may be reluctant to ask for the stuffed animals because the message was ‘boys play with trucks’, so they will choose a truck in the future.

Media stereotype messages are more subtle, but there are loads of them.

Be aware of them. Point them out to your children.

Are these messages stereotypes?

• Every girl would love an Easy-Bake Oven! 

• Men are strong and do all the hard work.

• Men tend to be physically larger and possibly stronger.

• Girls are not good at sports.

• Men who read too much are nerds and probably not popular.

• All Arabs and Muslims are terrorists.

• All Asians are good at Math.

• In the Asian culture, math is an important part of the school curriculum. 

• People of colour work harder because they come from poor backgrounds.

• Aunt Jemima (on the pancake syrup bottle) is a black and jolly maid. 

• Girls like reading.

• In fairy tales, the pretty princess is rescued by the square-jawed, strong, and brave prince. 

Stereotyping is hurtful, wrong and can lead to bullying.  If a boy wants an Easy Bake Oven he may be ridiculed for that choice. Muslims have been attacked on the street and called ‘terrorists,’ when in fact they may not be terrorists at all. 

Watch out for stereotypes in all media: commercials, video games, movies, and even romance novels. Try to find at least one example today. Call it what it is – a simplified and unfair idea that groups of people are all a certain way and that they are all the same. 

Regional update: 22 new cases

November 3, 2020 — Holly Smith

There are 22 new cases of COVID-19 in the region. One of the new cases is in the Avignon MRC, two in the Bonaventure MRC, seven in the Rocher-Percé MRC and the twelve in the Côte-de-Gaspé MRC.

Public Health states that the difference between provincial and regional statistics can be explained by the rapidly changing situation and that adjustments will be made over the next few days.

CHSLD in Maria (Residence Saint-Joseph) – no longer considered an outbreak: 24 residents and 22 staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Nine residents passed away as a result of Covid-19. Ninety-one residents and nearly 130 employees work there.

Lady Maria (RPA – Private Seniors’ Residence) outbreak

Forty-two residents (stable), and nine (stable) employees at Lady Maria have tested positive for COVID-19. The Lady Maria residence is home to 130 individuals and nearly 45 employees work there.

Maria Hospital outbreak

Ten (stable) employees have tested positive and, so far, no patients are involved in the outbreak.

CHSLD New Carlisle outbreak

Fifteen employees (+1) and fourteen (stable) residents are affected by this outbreak. Two (stable) residents from the CHSLD New Carlisle has passed away as a result of COVID-19. CHSLD New Carlisle houses 66 residents and employs 118 people.

New Carlisle Correctional Facility

One detainee and one employee at the New Carlisle Correctional Facility have tested positive for COVID-19. So far, nine detainees have been tested. There are currently 57 detainees at the New Carlisle facility.

Chandler Hospital outbreak

Less than five employees have tested positive.

Gaspé Hospital outbreak

According to the CISSS there is currently a COVID-19 outbreak at Gaspé Hospital. Nine employees (+1) have tested positive and less than five patients are affected by this outbreak. One patient has passed away as a result of COVID-19.

Centre d’hébergement Mgr-Ross outbreak

The management of the Integrated Health and Social Services Centre (CISSS) confirms that less than 5 employees of the programs and services of the Mgr-Ross in Gaspé have tested positive for COVID-19. The CISSS states that this facility has a multifunctional purpose and that currently, the outbreak does not affect the long-term care facility (CHSLD).

Manoir St-Augustin outbreak

The management of the regional Integrated Health and Social Services Centre (CISSS) has confirmed an outbreak at the Manoir St-Augustin in Gaspé. Eight residents and five employees of the private seniors’ residence (RPA) have so far, tested positive for COVID-19.

Updated List – Réné-Levesque School Service Centre

The Réné-Levesque School Service Centre has confirmed 21 (+3) cases. 6 (+1) classrooms are presently quarantined.

The educational facilities with positives cases are:

• École Antoine-Bernard, Carleton-sur-Mer (1 case)
• École St-Donat, Maria (1 case)
• École des Découvertes, St-Siméon (1 case)
• École aux Quatre-Vents, Bonaventure (3 cases – 1 class)
• Centre de formation professionnelle, Bonaventure (1 case)
• École Polyvalent, Paspébiac (2 cases – 1 class)
• École La Source, Paspébiac (4 cases)
• École Le Phare, Port-Daniel-Gascon (1 case)​
• École polyvalente Mgr Sévigny, Chandler (5 cases – 4 classes)
• École St-Joseph, Chandler (1 case)
• École secondaire du Littoral, Grande-Rivière (1 case)

Eastern Shores School Board

The educational facilities with positives cases are:

• St. Patrick / St. Joseph
• Gaspé Polyvalent
• Gaspé Elementary

Complete portrait

The total number of COVID-19 cases in the Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands is now 978 (+22). Presently, 728 (+10) individuals have recovered. There are 222 (+12) active cases in the region. The total number of deaths is 28 (stable). There are currently 16 (+4) individuals hospitalized.

Regional: MRC of Residence

Source: Gaspé Peninsula Public Health Board. n.d.: not disclosed when less than 5 for privacy reasons

The Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands region is at Alert Level 3 – Orange, with the exception of the following three municipalities: Maria, Carleton-sur-Mer and Nouvelle, which are at Alert Level 4 – Red.

Please consult previous posts for measures related to each Alert Level.

The totals for the province are as follows: 

*Five deaths occurred in the last 24 hours, four deaths occurred before October 27 and twenty five deaths occurred between October 27 and November 1.