Anti-Semitism's increasingly thin and hard-to-see line

[Behind the Aegis]

260. ""Women are so much nicer than men""

This is an example of a "positive" stereotype, but it is a stereotype, nonetheless. It is similar to "Gays are good-looking/neat (as in tidy)/have an eye for color (as in design)." "Blacks are good at sports/dancers/(men) have large penises." "If women ruled, things would be better (anyone want Sarah Palin in charge of the US??!?!)." Too many think the aforementioned aren't really bad, but are compliments. But, like you said, they are broad-brushing and if a person in said minority doesn't conform to those "positive" stereotypes, it indicates something is "wrong" with them or they aren't a "good" minority.

One of the signs of bigotry is making up things which are unprovable, but also by using facts in a disingenuous way. Most stereotypes may have some basis in fact, it is that the fact is stretched or manipulated in such a way as to distort, thus creating a new and false view of the group.