Stereotype Manifesto by Renee Leveillee
Stereotyping has played a role in every ones lives. Subconsciously, society stereotypes all the time based on how people dress, speak, act, and where they come from. Society has always stereotyped because these characteristics of a person have symbolized class and status for centuries. Today, stereotyping still exists because humans are a force of habit, but scientifically, humans want to feel better than those around them, so they stereotype in order to do that. What is stereotyping? Stereotyping is when an assumption is made about someone based on his or her background or history. In turn, this is labeling someone. No matter if the stereotype is positive or negative, there is always a chance of that stereotype having a negative effect on a person because what if that person will do anything possible to not become that stereotype.
The Negative Effects of Stereotyping
1) Defining a person:
An example of how stereotyping defines a person is when a child is born into a family of alcoholics. The child is stereotyped and judged by those who feel they were born into superior situations as only growing up to become an alcoholic. This can effect the child personally because that child might think that of themselves, but in reality, there are countless success stories of children being born into unfortunate circumstances and then becoming huge successes in not only their family, but in society as a whole.
2) It restricts people by playing a mental game:
A very common stereotype is that Asians are good at math. This can arguably be one reason why there are still race issues in society because those who are not Asian make this stereotype. First of all, it is impossible for an entire group to excel in one particular thing, but this stereotype, among other racial stereotypes, still exists. I know many people who are Asian; some are good at math, but they all succeed in different areas. One girl, who was not the greatest at math, felt like she was letting people down because she struggled with the subject. She did not respect herself for being one of the top English students in the school. It is ridiculous to me that she was thinking this way because she should not be defined by her race or stereotype. She, and everyone else in this world, should be able to pursue anything without feeling restricted to having to succeed at one particular thing just because society says you have to.
3) Stereotyping creates a prejudice:
Since stereotyping is an assumption, some people take an assumption more seriously than others. An example of this is assuming one knows everything about a person based on whom that person socializes with. Students, teachers, bosses, parents, or anyone else can do this stereotyping. There is no one specific group or person who is responsible for developing a prejudice against someone based on who they socialize with. When a prejudice is developed, it means that those stereotyping that person are more reluctant to get to know that person or want nothing to do with them. If a person is seen around criminals all the time, then other people assume that person is a criminal, too, which results in people not wanting to give as many opportunities to that person. This is the same for someone who owns a big company because that person could be stereotyped as being obsessed with their work and cocky. Everyone is an individual and the majority of people do not become his or her stereotype.
The problem of stereotyping is something that cannot be solved overnight, but all people need to do, is alter their thinking. Everyone born into this world is an individual no matter where he or she comes from, so stereotyping is irrelevant. If society were to accept individuality and that all are equal, then these stereotypes would begin to diminish. I ask you to take a step back and reflect on whom you have seen, heard about, or talked to today. Did a stereotype come to mind, or did you think of those people as a person just like you. I now challenge you to always acknowledge people for who they are and not who you think they are. Get to know someone you may not have ever talked to before because that person could be a different person than you may have realized.
Stereotyping has played a role in every ones lives. Subconsciously, society stereotypes all the time based on how people dress, speak, act, and where they come from. Society has always stereotyped because these characteristics of a person have symbolized class and status for centuries. Today, stereotyping still exists because humans are a force of habit, but scientifically, humans want to feel better than those around them, so they stereotype in order to do that. What is stereotyping? Stereotyping is when an assumption is made about someone based on his or her background or history. In turn, this is labeling someone. No matter if the stereotype is positive or negative, there is always a chance of that stereotype having a negative effect on a person because what if that person will do anything possible to not become that stereotype.
The Negative Effects of Stereotyping
1) Defining a person:
An example of how stereotyping defines a person is when a child is born into a family of alcoholics. The child is stereotyped and judged by those who feel they were born into superior situations as only growing up to become an alcoholic. This can effect the child personally because that child might think that of themselves, but in reality, there are countless success stories of children being born into unfortunate circumstances and then becoming huge successes in not only their family, but in society as a whole.
2) It restricts people by playing a mental game:
A very common stereotype is that Asians are good at math. This can arguably be one reason why there are still race issues in society because those who are not Asian make this stereotype. First of all, it is impossible for an entire group to excel in one particular thing, but this stereotype, among other racial stereotypes, still exists. I know many people who are Asian; some are good at math, but they all succeed in different areas. One girl, who was not the greatest at math, felt like she was letting people down because she struggled with the subject. She did not respect herself for being one of the top English students in the school. It is ridiculous to me that she was thinking this way because she should not be defined by her race or stereotype. She, and everyone else in this world, should be able to pursue anything without feeling restricted to having to succeed at one particular thing just because society says you have to.
3) Stereotyping creates a prejudice:
Since stereotyping is an assumption, some people take an assumption more seriously than others. An example of this is assuming one knows everything about a person based on whom that person socializes with. Students, teachers, bosses, parents, or anyone else can do this stereotyping. There is no one specific group or person who is responsible for developing a prejudice against someone based on who they socialize with. When a prejudice is developed, it means that those stereotyping that person are more reluctant to get to know that person or want nothing to do with them. If a person is seen around criminals all the time, then other people assume that person is a criminal, too, which results in people not wanting to give as many opportunities to that person. This is the same for someone who owns a big company because that person could be stereotyped as being obsessed with their work and cocky. Everyone is an individual and the majority of people do not become his or her stereotype.
The problem of stereotyping is something that cannot be solved overnight, but all people need to do, is alter their thinking. Everyone born into this world is an individual no matter where he or she comes from, so stereotyping is irrelevant. If society were to accept individuality and that all are equal, then these stereotypes would begin to diminish. I ask you to take a step back and reflect on whom you have seen, heard about, or talked to today. Did a stereotype come to mind, or did you think of those people as a person just like you. I now challenge you to always acknowledge people for who they are and not who you think they are. Get to know someone you may not have ever talked to before because that person could be a different person than you may have realized.