Do you think too many people are victims of stereotyping? Why is it that so many people are judged by the way they look, something they do, or where they are from? You have heard of "the dumb jock" and "the computer geek"; besides these, there are many other stereotypes prevalent in our society.
Are stereotypes harmful?
Have you, or someone you know, ever been a victim of stereotyping? What do you think is the process that occurs in a person's mind that makes him or her likely to stereotype, or prejudge, others based on their appearance or background?
Ayah
17 comments:
Every person has and has been stereotyped at some point in their life. People often stereotype because that is their way of describing someone or a group. Stereotyping can be very harmful because it often describes someone in a way that is not true, but because they were stereotyped that way it often prevents that person or others from seeing them different. The process of stereotyping comes with the way a person was raised and whether or not they continue to see things the same way when they are older. For example my Grandfather was entirely against interracial marriages and biracial children for most of his life. Now that he has seen first hand that the race of a person does not change the fact that they are capable of just as much love and the ability to provide just as well as someone of his race and that he has biracial great grandchildren that he loves, he has changed his mind.
Amber Johnson-Garcia
Yes, I do believe that too many people are stereotyped, it will probably not be ending any time soon either. Even the people who claim they don't do it are probably sometimes guilty. It is simply the way of the world. People judge each other constantly, by where you live, who you hang with, what you wear, what color your skin is, and how much of an education you have. I believe that the person doing the stereotyping usually does so out of habit because of how they grew up, and what they observed their parents doing. It all begins at home. i HAVE BEEN STEREOTYPED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AS A "BITCH" yet, once a person actually gets to know me, they find out that what they perceived as a bitch, was actually a kind and loving , sometimes overprotective woman, who simply stands her ground.
M.S.H.
Like Amber said: “Everyone has been stereotyped at some point in their life.” I think people stereotype because people are afraid of who the other person is, or just simply think that they are beneath them. “Computer Geeks” are classified because they are always working on their computers, and that they are smart. People come from all different backgrounds and ways of life. Some people get stereotyped because of the clothes they wear; the way they smell; because they wear glasses. I will be honest; when I was in middle school and high school, I used to stereotype “preppies”. When people are younger and haven’t knowledge are the ones who tend to stereotype. After I grew up and acquired knowledge, I learned that what I did was a mistake. I knew that it was the wrong thing to do. Thank God I don’t stereotype or judge anyone like I used to. It’s not my place to judge anyone because I’m not better than anyone.
Stereotyping is very harmful to society because it makes people feel bad about themselves. It makes others feel as though they are under achievers. It’s not fair to stereotype someone or make fun of someone because who they are. To stereotype is a kind of racism. All different races are the target of stereotype such as: Mexicans, African Americans, Middle Easterns, even the Caucasian Americans get stereotyped. Every single race has a name for them; it’s not a good name it’s really demeaning and hurtful. Just because the color of someone’s skin, the way other’s dress, or because they’re smart or not so smart doesn’t mean people are smarter than others. All people are smart in their own ways. I think the reason why people stereotype is because they don’t know the person, and because they’re afraid of whom the other person is. Maybe people afraid that other people will talk bad about you if you got to know the other person you’re stereotyping.
Stereotyping is very harmful to society because it separates people, when in fact all people are the same on the inside. Just because they’re a little different on the outside doesn’t mean people should stereotype, or discriminate. People come from different societies, different backgrounds, different cultures, and different religions. In the end everyone wants the same thing: happy life, family, love, money, etc. People should just stop being ignorant and be a little more open-minded; perhaps travel the world to enhance their mind’s capability to understand life more. Then maybe people will think twice about stereotyping another person.
Lori
I believe Stereotypes have come into existence because certain people have similar experiences with numerous people who happen to act or look the same. If you talk to three different "Jocks" and all of them act uneducated then you will start to believe that ALL jocks are uneducated.
Everyone is different and no one should be judged based on what they look like or what there main interests are. I was always one of the smartest kids in class, but I was also the loudest, and most fun to hang around with, therefore I was able to break any stereotypes that people could have come up with for me.
I don't agree or justify anybody judging someone without knowing their true character. Everyone should be given a chance, no matter what the circumstance may be.
SJAG <3
Yes, I believe stereotypes can be very harmful. I don't think it's fair to be put into a category just because of your skin color or what you believe, or even the things you participate in. Yes, I have been stereotyped at more than one point in my life. I was a cheerleader, so people assumed I was snotty and stuck up. When I was home schooled, people put me into the category of smart nerds who always wore jean skirts. I was neither of those things.
I think people are so quick to stereotype because then in their mind, they "know" the person without having to get to know them. It's a quick assessment of people. I believe part of it is also because of the people and media we grew up with. We were taught that if someone looks a certain way, they must act a certain way too. Or because they play sports, they must be arrogant. Regardless, I think stereotyping is ridiculous and unfair.
-Hannah Miller
In school I was put into stereotypes. In Junior High the “popular” kids were not so nice to me and called me a “druggy”. I didn’t do drugs, nor had I ever seen one in real life. But because they assumed I did drugs, I was singled out and made fun of. Then when I got into high school I was in the “goody-two-shoes” category because I didn’t do drugs. Apparently drugs became popular in high school and I didn’t get the memo on why it was “cool.” I eventually lost a few friends because I wouldn’t back down on my morals and do drugs with them.
Stereotyping is wrong and mentally/emotionally painful. But at some point I think people stereotype, whether they mean to or not. We can’t help but to judge sometimes, and I think our culture has a lot to do with it.
Heather Denam
Yes I believe stereotyping is harmful. I think it often gives the person being stereotyped an unfair disadvantage. A perfect example is that I am Muslim and often when I tell a person this, the first thing that comes up is the issue of terrorism. This in a way states that many Muslims are terrorist. Not true!
Yes I have been a victim of stereotyping and I know that many others have been as well. Take for instance the guy who wears his pants sagging. Often he is seen as being affiliated with a gang, or is automatically characterized as a bad seed.
I think that people stereotype because of an event that has occurred in their lives or because of an image they have seen in the media. This is not good and I believe we should give everyone a chance to present themselves as the person they really are. I do have to admit that I have also been in situations where I have stereotyped others
Khattab
All walks of life and color and sizes have been stereotyped. Is it bad for society, but I have a question-- Have you ever stereotyped someone and you were right? And something bad came out of you not saying or warning someone about what you thought that person was;I have been down that road and didn't say anything and something bad happened to a close friend of mine--I felt terrible. I'm not sure why as a society we tend to stereotype people other than the fact to maybe make ourselves feel better. In many cases we will say we don't stereotype people yet behind closed doors you make fun of someone for the way they are dressed. Even in this class someone assumed I thought they were not American because of the clothes they wore and until this person said anything the thought had never crossed my mind.So, even in this class we have people stereotyping or assuming that people think one way when it is truly unnecessary... or even inappropriate. I have tried to, as I have gotten older not to judge anyone by their dress,skin color, age or looks as Heather said their is only one judge and we cannot take his place not matter how some people think they can. I have raised both of my daughters the same way and that is to know a person before you decide whether or not to like the person I don't care what race a person is because there are all kinds of people that are not good people and it has absolutely nothing to do with the color of a person skin or even the clothes they wear.
Buddy Carpenter
Sterotyping can be very harmful. When Pearl Harbor was attacked; Japanese American citizens were evacuated into military controlled camps. Many of these citizens had never left American soil. When we were attacked on 9/11/2001; muslems were being detained and often not allowed to travel without being scrutinized or being refused into the United States.we are too quick to assume that when something happens we are suppose to put people into catagories and treat them as such. Stereotyping sometimes brings the worse out in people because they are not given a chance. They were stereotyped because of race,color, beliefs,religion religion or public opinion. It is something we need to improve on; because someone is different, we are not better than they are.
kevin h
I think stereotypes are a very interesting subject. Yes, I agree that they are completely wrong, but where did they come from? It's not like, for most, that someone just made these things up about people and started saying them, they had to see a majority of that kind of people doing it. For example, white man can't jump. For most white people, this is true. But, there are many exemptions in this so that is why stereotypes are, in fact, wrong.
Stereotypes are very harmful, especially racial ones. A person can't do anything about there race and what they look like, it is mostly about culture and how you were grown up. Which can be completely different from another person and that is why they are making fun of someone using stereotypes.
There are many people I know, including myself, that have been a victim of stereotyping. I enjoy being on my computer which has labeled me a 'computer nerd'. I'm ok with this, it really doesn't bother me at all but to some people it could really hurt them.
Jake Bock
I hate stereotyping. It is very harmful. people can't even do want they want to do because of it like getting a job. It is every where and it happens when some stupid person doesn't do something right or dose something wrong an messes it up for every one.
Robert McClinton
Alex
In my opinion stereotypes can be harmful. I’ve been stereotyped many times. One I’ve been was a “stupid hillbilly”. I really didn’t take offence to it because a lot of the things I do could be considered “hillbilly” but ticks me off when people say I like to “keep it in the family”. I might chew, wear boots, a buckle, but I’d never go after my cousin. Some stereotyping can be harmful. I know a lot of people who just because they might live in a trailer have been called trailer trash. I have a lot of friends who that has happened to and it’s ticked me off because it’s not true, it’s just where they live. The media is what I blame for this problem because anyone it shows living in trailers or people who live in a certain area, they all take after the next person in that situation.
Of course stereotyping is around. And weather people admit it everyone does it. Its not a bad thing necessarily, its more a human instinct thing. If you were walking through a neighborhood at night and seen people in all black just standing at a corner you would be more careful; than lets say walking down a fully illuminated street with people in business suits. Its just a human survival instinct. Now i also think that some situations are wrong in stereotyping. Like i was a little kid walked in meijers and bought a candy bar, stopped and looked at some cards. I picked them up set them down. On the way out security stopped me pulled me to the back and said i had on a baggy shirt to steal. Nothing was found on me and they still said i was a liar. Now thats just prejudice to me. Specially when statistically a white female has been proven to steal more. It's all about how people see things.
Adrian Enriquez
We are all victims of stereotyping in one point of our lives or another. People are judged on the way they look because, most of the time our parents have instilled a certain belief in our minds that some people are better than others. Or sometimes people may be prejudged just because of where they’re from. There are many other stereotypes in the world because of what T.V., the News, and what movies install in our heads. For instance, society has portrayed homosexuals as indecent and transporters of the HIV/AIDS virus. Another stereotype is that all male ballet dancers eventually grow up to be homosexuals. Another stereotype is that dancers and strippers are made up to be promiscuous and flirtatious people. “Jocks” are always classified as slower than everyone else because, people “figure out” that only their athletic talent and not their academic strength gets them eligible to play the certain sport that they play. Some people are classified as “geeks” because they want to do a little more research than everybody else, and they want to learn and be a little more academically agile than everyone else. Due to some movies African-Americans have been portrayed as thieves and murderers. That’s why whenever a Caucasian woman is walking down the street; she will be inclined to clutch her purse if an African-American man is approaching her, due to the fact that they are “Supposedly” “Known” for snatching purses. Stereotypes are harmful because they lead to even bigger road blocks such as racism. Everyone is a victim of stereotyping, racism, or prejudice at one point of their life or another. Latinos have been victimized and traumatized with being called things such as: Wet Backs, Migrant Worker, Spic, and “Hardest Worker On The Job” due to the fact (or rumor) that Latinos may except lower wages at jobs just so they can work. Besides being the victim of a stereotype I also have stereotyped as well. I once met an Islamic young woman, (or maybe she was Hindi or Buddhist) who mentioned that she had one parent from South America (Colombia) and another from somewhere in the Middle East. I’m no racist and I normally don’t stereotype but these are TWO KNOWN Terrorist HOT SPOTS. Before I could stop myself, something in my mind had said…”You just got terrorist written all over ya, don’cha?!?” That was wrong on all levels point blank, period. And this is not something that I take lightly, or portray as a joke especially being a victim of it day to day (Nor do I regularly partake in it). So if a person is not judging you on your skin color or background, then they are judging you on what someone else has said or what they have seen on T.V… and contrary to popular belief I have respect for all people of all different preferences, races, nationalities, shapes, sizes, origins, and especially religions.
last post was by Pikachu
I think that in one way or another we all stereotype on accident. At least I do, I try not to as much as can. I find myself walking past a guy holding a will work for food sign, thinking typical homeless alcoholic. But he could have been laid off and never bounced back from it. I think that stereotypes are harmful only if the person actually believe that all people are the same in one way or the other. I really don't believe in all stereotypes and I try to perceive a person as they actually are not who I make them up to be in my mind.
Makeisha Riley
Everybody that I know stereotype and the people that they stereotype on, are stereotyping too. Not saying that it is ok, but everyone does it. Nobody takes time to know the person that they are meeting for the first time because he/she are too busy talking about them. I’m not about to talk down on the situation because i have done it. It is harmful, but I never become outrageous with it. I think the reason why people do it is for the laugh.
Akemia Slaughter
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