What's arbitrary are stereotypes, period. They aren't statistics. They're suppositions at best.
Bah. You just repeated what I said. You can't disagree with me by using a word that means the same thing.
A "supposition" is a hypothesis, a hypothesis is an assumption, and a stereotype is also an assumption.
Here is the logic:
1. If a stereotype is an assumption, and a hypothesis is an assumption, then a hypothesis is a stereotype.
2. If research and statistics are means of forming hypothesis, then research and statistics are means of forming stereotypes.
3. If a hypothesis
can be a fact, then a stereotype
can be a fact.
The logic is flawless, even if you don't accept it.
Now, if the research is flawed, then the hypothesis/supposition/assumption/stereotype will be flawed. If a stereotype is
only based on guesses, then the
likelihood of it being true
could diminish to zero.