Stereotyping in healthcare is not just problematic but it is toxic. Stereotyping is judging someone on the basis of one's perception of the group to which that person belongs (Borkowski & Meese, 2020). Stereotyping itself can be positive because it allows us to organize a complex world; however, it is considered negative when doing this to individuals (Borkowski & Meese, 2020). Anything regarding race and ethnicity is problematic for health service organizations because patients will assume a stereotype and that can contribute to unequal treatment and vice verses. An example is my Dad stereotyped his doctor because the doctor was Asian. He called him every racial slur in the book and refused to acknowledge him as his primary. When I stepped in to take care of him I made an appointment with this doctor and we went together. My dad complained every second until the office visit. Once we left, he says "Who knew he could be so nice?"

That is only one example of stereotyping and it works both ways. I have seen healthcare providers call obese patients lazy, or homeless patients drug addicts. While there may be a tendency for these groups to act that way, not all are the same. This is inherited bias and it can be unlearned with a bit of education on these populations. One goal of management is to assist staff in recognizing that stereotypes are illogical by challenging these faulty cognitions (Borkowski & Meese, 2020). This can be achieved through training exercises and workshops.

An example of a new hire selection that could be biased is hiring based on gender. One of the most common forms of stereotyping involves gender and leadership. Women hold positions at all levels in healthcare organizations, but only between 10% and 18% of chief executive officer positions are held by women (Russell, et al, 2019). About 17 years ago I applied for a traveling job with Fuji. In my interview, I was asked if I was married and had children. I just happened to get married so I was excited to tell that piece of information; however, I did not get the job because they assumed I would have children right away and not be able to work. Well, I did not have kids but I was definitely stereotyped in the interview. Hiring the best person for the job should be the golden rule. Unfortunately, our society is entirely too judgmental to follow this rule and this will be a struggle for many lifetimes.

What would be a good response to these statements?

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