The Bandido stereotype would seem to be rooted in a particular place, the countr
ID: 3495973 • Letter: T
Question
The Bandido stereotype would seem to be rooted in a particular place, the countryside, desert, and desert towns of the U.S. southwest and Mexico. In a sense, we can imagine that this is a "harmless" stereotype of a bygone era that might not have a negative impact on anyone in real life outside of those settings. In other words, you're not going to encounter someone who looks or acts like this. So, what is the harm in the bandido character? What was the harm of such characters in films in the middle of the 20th century? What values, beliefs, or political/economic arrangements does the character represent in American society?
Explanation / Answer
So, what is the harm in the bandido character?
The bandido character has been stereotyped as negative since the times of the Hell's Angeles. There was a situation in which they wreaked havoc on a small town of Hollister, Calif. There's no harm in the bandido character. It is just that they are the kind of people who are not very much bothered by the people around them. This is not acceptable by the society and hence they are stigmatised as being highly negative.
What was the harm of such characters in films in the middle of the 20th century? What values, beliefs, or political/economic arrangements does the character represent in American society?
Initially, the bandidos were a group of bikers who just took the path to be free without any norms. But now, with the expansion of the group, they started to become more ruthless and uncontrollable. They started carrying out more organised crimes, and the worst part was their portrayal in the movies in the mid 20th century. With the kind of negative portrayal in the movies, they started to be perceived as being more negative and this perception amongst people continued to grow. They started being stigmatised as the motor cycle clubs , and this in turn led to differential association where people are compelled to perform crimes. This compelling can either come from influence or stigmatisation, which was the case here. These biker gangs are perceived as highly negative of being responsible of carrying out most of the illegal duties including drug trafficking , extortion as well as prostitution rings.
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