A stereotype is a widely held but fixed or conventional image of a thing, person, or group of people. They occur due to lack of knowledge or when information is unattainable, so a substitution of thoughts and opinions takes place. This often leads to incorrect assessments and unfair discrimination against certain people and situations. They are mainly based on extreme characteristics attributed to a specific group of people and normally have negative values ​​associated with the group in question. Basically, a stereotype is applied whenever everyone in a particular group of people appears to have the same living conditions, attitudes and characteristics. Stereotypes not only influence opinions and thoughts, but also influence behavior. They are found everywhere and, although innocently portrayed, influence and influence the mindsets of many (Gray, 1996). In this essay I will try to analyze the use of stereotypes in television shows and their impact on audiences by focusing on the representation of women on television. Stereotypes are commonly used on television as they are quite relatable to audiences. Since most television shows only have 20 to 40 minutes to tell a story, there isn't much time to develop a character more fully and so character identities need to be established as quickly as possible possible. Therefore, screenwriters and program makers use it as a much more effective shortcut instead of delving into full characterization for the sake of explanation. Stereotyping women has been a major concern of media critics and feminists. Women on television are stereotyped into several categories, including but not limited to: women po...... middle of paper ......, leading to prejudice and discrimination. This last point in particular can have a lasting impact on an individual who has been stereotyped as it may lead them to see themselves in a different way (as society sees them) and may ultimately change their actions to match a certain stereotype for the purposes of feeling accepted and a sense of belonging (Lin, 2014). In conclusion, my opinion is that stereotypes have more negative than positive effects on society. However, when it comes to television programs, its use becomes necessary so that the audience can easily make a connection and understand a specific character. Once the character is established, however, the stereotype in question can be removed. In other words, if a TV show has ten episodes, the use of stereotypes in the first two can achieve a lot in terms of defining the character..