Often used as a derogatory term for a quickly drawn or 'stock' character, and criticised as lazy or deliberate misrepresentations of people or groups. Actually stereotypes have a specific function and force in any text, which it is often useful to explore in a reasonably unprejudicial way.
Found on http://www.screenonline.org.uk/education/glossary.html
Generalizations about a group of people in which the same characteristics are assigned to all members of a group. Found on https://www.encyclo.co.uk/local/22842