Women are stereotyped by other women and men, but then, who’s not. Certainly each ethnic group in the United States is, sexual preferences are, political and religious affiliations are, Shrine-rs are, athletes are, children are, body types are. The list of stereotypes in a heterogeneous society is endless. I’m amused by feminine stereotypes especially multi-tie-rd ones such as a black, beautiful bitch or a stupid blond, or a butch lesbian who loves cats. These are useful ways of describing an individual in generalized terms that most people understand. Feminine stereotypes have the power of any cliche, they communicate quickly to a large universe of people. Certainly the term, “Dumb Blond” is hackneyed, but no more so than any other hoary cliche. I’m thinking right now of a rather recent cliche that makes absolutely no sense, which is, “It is what it is.” That nonsense expression gets tossed around offices throughout North America everyday probably more than, “What a castrating bitch my new boss is.”

So there is no the feminine stereotype but rather a rather useful compendium of feminine stereotypes. And its because there are so many different ones, these stereotypes are benign - they’re about as vicious as an after-dinner mint, not like razor-blades in the sink. I’ll grant that they can cause hurt feelings to the stereotyped female, but the hurt is usually inflicted when a given stereotype fits a given woman like a glove. Brittany Spears is a Bimbo, just as Tom Cruise is a Himbo. Women will never compete equally with men in almost any sport because they lack the size and strength to stop an NFL running back, or prevent Kobe Bryant from scoring at will. They just aren’t strong enough. Some women are manipulative, cruel, and spoiled just as are some Latinos, Asians, fat people and Episcopalians.

So how do I feel about the feminine stereotype? I feel there are hundreds of them, and they’re at times a useful technique for describing someone, and that they are universally absurd. In other words, feminine stereotypes are comparable to any other generalization about any person, place or thing: stupid,