Open AccessEthno-cultural stereotypes in the function of local identities
Author(s) -
Desanka P. Nikolić
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
glasnik etnografskog instituta/glasnik etnografskog instituta sanu
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2334-8259
pISSN - 0350-0861
DOI - 10.2298/gei0801115n
Subject(s) - ethnic group , stereotype (uml) , socioeconomic status , social psychology , social group , population , function (biology) , cultural identity , cultural group selection , sociology , gender studies , psychology , demography , anthropology , feeling , evolutionary biology , biology
The paper discusses various problems in regional identities of ethnic and other groups in Serbia. According to the author, a forming and maintenance of local identities is under a heavy influence of stereotypes held by one group towards the other, neighboring groups, where ethno-demographic, historical and socioeconomic features also play the role. Cultural and character features of a group stand out as markers of the group homogeneity; these markers also serve to differentiate a group from another, while humor is cited as a primary way to express a stereotype. The author further discusses long lasting and slow changes in stereotyping, and argues that stereotypes could be overcome with a more even distribution of existential means along side better understanding of ethno-cultural characteristics of an ethnicity. The research in Serbia confirms inter-dependency of local identities and stereotypes; this, in turn, creates conditions for forming cultural types of population (in this case the Goranci and Era) which represent local cultures and carriers of local identities