It is often said that stereotypes don’t die. To be fair, it is probably more accurate to say that stereotypes don’t die easily. Stereotypes can sometimes seem equivalent to the nature of things. Something is the way it is because it has always been this way – there is no changing, and no need to change it. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a stereotype is “a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.” Curiously, the word “stereotype” has its origins in the early 19th-century printing business, where a stereotype plate was used to replicate typeset words.
One stereotype that seems to have the half-life of uranium-238 is that men and women perform best in certain jobs. For example, some believe that men are more suited to technical and mechanical fields, where strength and stamina provide comparative advantages. Others believe that women are better suited to nurturing and educational roles in society, where interpersonal skills and empathy are essential enablers of success. While there may be some elements of logic to each of these stereotypes, are they true? What exactly might that even mean, and why is it important for business aviation?
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