Shiksha Karki*
When a center is determined, margins are drawn on its own; Problem begins as this center always generalizes margins as the other. In the long run, certain stereotypical images are developed within this discourse. Stuart hall, a cultural theorist and sociologist who lived and worked in the orated kingdom as the president of the
British sociological Association, agrees that stereotyping comes from the human
tendency of making types. Certain parameters are developed on the basic of the
individual traits. Behaviors of characteristics and the rests are generalized and
watched wearing the same spectacle. However, not all the stereotypes that have
been consulted so far turn effective. Hall claims that only those stereotypes that have power as a backup becomes effective. Stereotypes functions as if true when they are constructed from the position of power i.e. from center, finally creating
certain invisible yet always lying rights in between.
Since ancient period to this technological era, females have always been stereotyped
and taken as the other. The definition of Feminity is given to the females which
describe females as weak Submissive, docile, vulnerable, god fearing, coward
and so on. And exactly opposite characteristics defines the masculinity. However, this unitary definition is questioned in the modern context. Sean Nixon, another
theorist, argues that it is nothing but a patriarchal construction. Then the people in the position of power were men, likewise the male favored world was created, that world claimed the superiority lies in male. Their sole purpose was to create such a word where males are bold, courageous, strong, capable and competent. So, most of the economic and social responsibilities were entrusted to the male. Even today,
strength is related to the standard of masculinity. If a female shows her strength, she's stereotyped for being a man like and a male in tears is stereotyped is called a women like and weaker.
Besides socio-political and economic strength, religion was also left in the charge
of the males, they were claimed to be pure and morally perfect. Therefore, he was entrusted with the responsibility to look after God. However, whatever qualities were conventionally given to the females are also found in males That means whatever things that happens to the human can happen to the males too.
The terms masculinity and feminity, both are the social invention and this is where
the real problem lies. Despite the fact that the identification is necessary of one another in the world, modification of the 'bias' lying in the stereotyped is required.
Like gender, certain religions other than the one in the center are also watched with biased stereotyped as they are other victims of marginalization. In the contest of Nepal for instant Muslim student sits on the examination ahead, the question
reads, "write an essay on Dashain /Tihar. Hardly an optional question appears on their religion. You're marginalized but is expected to answer all the central
question correctly. However, it's barely the other way around. And until few years back Nepal was called a Hindu nation where the marginalized voices were almost nil.
In some cases there appears double marginalization; for instance, in Muslim community a female Muslim is victimized. First she is marginalized because of
her biological difference from male, second, due to religious indenting i.e. Muslim.
Similar case applied to other marginalized female of society. And in international cases, black female are.
One such discrimination of marginalized can be found in terms of the language.
Based on the essay 'Refusing to choose' by Mollica Dastider, those who speak language other than Devanagari Nepali are discriminated. In the context of Madhes, when even the Maithili speaker or other that are at margins, Dastider questions
"What is the story of Madhesi Muslims? " After 1990 revolution, although they
had the national appeal in the name of Islam, they couldn't be local madhesi in their
own madhes. Therefore, after 2007 they obviously go face region over the religion. However, they wanted both Muslim & madhesi identity 'co-exist'. Dastider claims
that unfortunately still the madhesi Muslim were not recognized as local by other local because they were calling themselves 'Muslim' instead of Madhesi.
In international term, west is in center. Therefore certain perspective is obviously there to look towards the east Edward said who analyzed and developed 'orientalism' explains that orientalism is the mind set of western people to divide the east and west in terms of the stereotypes that are given to the west. While east is orient is taken to be irrational barbaric, primitive and uncivilized. West is superior and east is inferior in their mind. Said claims that all these things happens due to the position of power. Whatever stereotypes power position constructs that become the authentic knowledge as well as the truth, through the mass media, newspaper, painting, art, literature within the society.
Once the stereotypes are constructed form the power, even the one not in power or marginalized ones consider such stereotypes as the truth. Process of internalization occurs within them given by the ruling class and contents their functioning. In the long run, stereotypes functions in hegemony.