Stereotypes In Twelve Angry Men By Reginald Rose

In 1954, the enthralling, stirring drama Twelve Angry Men was written by Reginald Rose. This drama is used to show the depth of bias and flaws in the United States jury system; furthermore, how much juries stereotype defendants mainly based on features. Additionally, women and people of color weren’t allowed on juries; the jury consisted of only white men. A stereotype is the generalization about a certain category of people/things; furthermore, it often is an unfair/untrue belief that people associate a specific group of people with based on their characteristics. (Britannica). Stereotypes have become an asset many have come to use even when unintentional; therefore, this then encompasses microaggressions from the people doing the stereotyping. (Is Unconscious Bias). For example, in a study done it was found that the physical appearance of the defendant

During the drama the jurors are talking about the motive for the defendant killing his father. This then led to the jurors talking about if any of them had kids; furthermore, Juror Three spoke up saying he had a kid who he’d gotten into a fight with when “He hit me in the face. He’s big y’know. I haven’t seen him in two years.” (Rose, pg 18). Deeper into the play Juror Three is enraged because the defendant killed his dad and he personally related. Deep down Juror Three wanted the defendant to be convicted as guilty due to how Juror Three felt about the falling out with his son; he wanted his son to pay for leaving. Juror Three held this grudge until the end of the drama where Juror Eight states, “It’s not your boy. He’s somebody else.” (Rose, pg 74). This is when Juror Three realizes he has been holding a personal grudge and has put all of his frustration about the situation onto the case and even the other jurors. Finally, Juror Three votes not