Stereotype

Question

Is the following correct? That's a shame you didn't get the job. It seems as though the recruiter may have had one of those preconcieved ideas based on certain stereotypes that she wanted."

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

You are using too many words.

It's a shame you didn't get the job. The recruiter may have had a preconceived idea of what she wanted.

Anonymous · Answer

Mister MicawberYou are using too many words.It's a shame you didn't get the job. The recruiter may have had a preconceived idea of what she wanted.

Thank you.

I thought "that's" and "it's" could be used interchangibly in this instance. Am I wrong?

I know I have used a lot of words, but does the original sentence make sense?

Mister Micawber · Answer

AnonymousI thought "that's" and "it's" could be used interchangibly in this instance. Am I wrong?

'That's' is odd when the referent is in the same sentence. Compare:

It's a shame that you didn't get the job.
You didn't get the job? That's a shame.

Anonymousdoes the original sentence make sense?

If you mean, was I able to understand it? Yes.

Anonymous · Answer

Mister Micawber Am I wrong?'That's' is odd when the referent is in the same sentence. Compare:It's a shame that you didn't get the job.You didn't get the job? That's a shame.

Great explanation.

Mister MicawberIf you mean, was I able to understand it? Yes.

Thanks. I just wanted to make sure that the sentences were correct although they could've been written more concisely.

Mister Micawber · Answer

Anonymous I just wanted to make sure that the sentences were correct although they could've been written more concisely.

Not really: 'preconceived' and 'stereotype' together are redundant and the former is misspelt.

Anonymous · Answer

Mister MicawberNot really: 'preconceived' and 'stereotype' together are redundant and the former is misspelt.

This is how I read it:

"It seems as though the recruiter may have had one of those preconceived ideas" = It seems the recruiter may have formed an opinion of me without seeing the high standard of my work. Just by looking at me, she may have assumed I wouldn't be competent to do the job.

"based on certain stereotypes that she wanted."= she may have based her opinions on the fact that I didn't fit her stereotypical view of a secretary. Her view of a secretary might be someone who is tall and slim, and that's possibly the kind of person she was looking for. The recruiter might associate being tall and slim with being competent.

The sentences were written by someone I know. I read them and wondered if they were correct. I knew what the writer meant. After checking the definitions of "preconceived" and "stereotypical", I thought the sentences might be correct, although I would not have chosen to use so many words.

I think "based on certain stereotypes that she wanted" gives more information about why the recruiter may have formed a preconceived idea i.e. the recruiter may not have formed a preconceived idea of me based on what a current employee may have told her about me (maybe she told her I didn't do very well at school). On the contrary, it may have been my height and weight that made her think I wouldn't be competent to do the job.

I have googled "preconceived notion(s) based on stereotypes " and "preconceived idea(s) based on stereotypes", and other people, including an author of a book, have used those phrases.

Stereotype

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