# Roles and Opportunities By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2023-03-19 When casting a movie or play, the concern is often given to notions of conformity to expectation. Certain roles tend to be given to certain people, or more directly, to certain types of people. Age, gender, and race historically have their assigned place in casting decisions. Deviations from these expectations can cause extreme responses. Responses to the casting of Halley Bailey as Ariel in the live-action version of “The Little Mermaid” show that expectations regarding the conformity of casting choices are still alive and well in our society. Similar assumptions are frequently at play within organizations. Wisdom is assigned to older workers. Ambition assigned to younger workers. Caregiving to female workers. The list goes on and on. In both theater and offices, such expectations perpetuate stereotypes that constrain individuals and erode the belief in meritocracies. After all the technological advancements that enable instantaneous, global communication and space exploration, it is disappointing that we are still grappling with such an obvious defect in human thinking and action toward each other. #### Related Items [[Identity]] [[Stereotypes]] [[Organizational Analytics]] [[Work]] [[Beliefs]]