I’m not sure I like the idea of coupling the adjective irrational with stereotypes. I think that we can talk about irrational belief in or acceptance of a stereotype—belief or acceptance not justified by evidence. We can talk about irrational use of a stereotype—letting a stereotype of poor performance overrule objective evidence of good performance at some task. But stereotypes themselves, considered as rough summaries of objective reality, are some degree of valid or invalid, rather than rational or irrational.
I realize that the posting was mostly quite properly discussing irrational construction of stereotypes and irrational use of (potentially valid) stereotypes. My quibble applies almost not at all to the article; almost entirely to the title.
I’m not sure I like the idea of coupling the adjective irrational with stereotypes. I think that we can talk about irrational belief in or acceptance of a stereotype—belief or acceptance not justified by evidence. We can talk about irrational use of a stereotype—letting a stereotype of poor performance overrule objective evidence of good performance at some task. But stereotypes themselves, considered as rough summaries of objective reality, are some degree of valid or invalid, rather than rational or irrational.
I realize that the posting was mostly quite properly discussing irrational construction of stereotypes and irrational use of (potentially valid) stereotypes. My quibble applies almost not at all to the article; almost entirely to the title.