The purpose of this essay is to increase the knowledge of how stereotypes are used in soap operas. The study handles a sample of Swedish soap operas which were transmitted in April and May 2000. It takes a qualitative approach and I have used a content analysis. The study consists of three chapters; one introductory part that deals with background, purpose and method, chapter two covers theories and literature within the area, and the last chapter contains the analysis and the result. A stereotype is a label that involves a process of categorisation. The success and effect of stereotypes is primarily due to their simplicity and ease of recognition. Consequently they can be used as ”easy” channels of communication which is significant in the case of soap operas given that they often must communicate long and complex narratives under heavy time constrains. This essay reveals that soap operas generally use stereotypes that are based on myths which are in turn constructed around gender and class boundaries. Given such constructions, it is important to note that stereotypes are constructions of reality and have very little basis in fact.