The following essay will discuss the topic of stereotyping, and how it affects society
when practiced. What is stereotyping, and what are the causes? Is it related to
instinct? These questions will be put reason, based on fact. When the facts have been
made clear, a valid opinion regarding the topic of stereotyping will be made.
Stereotyping is quite common among society, yet it is also quite difficult point out what
it really is.
Stereotyping is referred to as any theory or doctrine indicating that that actions of an
individual reflect on his or her whole culture, sex, age, race, class, or nationality.
It could also be considered as a tool which people use to label others. In practice, one
looks at a other, and begins to make generalizations about any physical or intellectual
attributes one may possess, and then classes them into a certain category. Adopting
stereotype ideas, one assumes that the behavior of one represents everyone of that class.
If a young Japanese boy is excelling in math, for example, then a stereotype attitude
would be to assume that all Japanese boys are good at math. It is quite obvious that
this is not always so. Knowing this, does that mean that stereotyping is "wrong"? When
is it considered "correct", if ever? We are provided with prerogative to think however
we like, but is it correct in assuming that stereotyping is immoral and unfair? This
topic will be more discriptive through the proceeding.
Stereotyping
As it was mentioned in the Introduction, stereotyping is relative to making
generalizations towards a whole culture, class, or nation, etc. based on the actions of
one or a select few. It is quite obvious that the accuracy rate of observing in such a
manner would be quite minimal, yet there are people who practice it and people who have
done it before, including myself. I would be telling an absolute lie if were to say that
I have never stereotyped anyone. Who is to say why I have, for I am not a prejudiced
person as far I can tell.
Yet I have caught myself thinking that all people from Hong Kong are filthy rich,
because the majority of the people that I know, originating from there (which is not
many) seem to be quite well off financially, with their fancy cars and clothing. Well
the truth is, there are people who filthy rich living in Hong Kong, as well as people who
are dirt poor. The jealousy towards my acquaintances from Hong Kong, lead me to believe
that all people from there are rich. That is a classic example of stereotyping, within
my experience. Looking back on that predicament, which was about two years ago, makes me
feel feeble-minded, for the assumption was quite ridiculous. I am glad, however, that it
had occurred, because it has enlightened me to the point that I will remember not to even
think along the lines of something as ridiculous as that.
There are many other various examples of stereotyping regarding nationality, such as:
The Irish are considered as uncontrollable alcoholics, the Chinese are portrayed as
illusive thieves, Jewish people as being inherently cheap and Natives as being lazy and
apathetic. All of which, are very unwarranted judgment, for there is minimal if not any
credible evidence backing it up. Yes there may be a few Irish alcoholics, Chinese
thieves, cheap Jewish people, and lazy Natives, but that does not mean, however, that
they are all like they are said to be.
A person who stereotypes could be considered as a prejudiced person. A prejudiced
person does not take the time to understand another as an individual. Instead, they make
preconceptions about another, regarding their age, sex, race, nationality, class or
culture. In my previous case, I was prejudiced about my acquaintances from Hong Kong's
nationality or culture.
The general relationship between a person who is prejudiced and a person who
stereotypes is the fact that they are both mean-spirited. That is, they violate the
rights of individuals by forming perceptions about people based solely on their
membership in a particular group. Consequently, they fail to judge people based on their
merits and individual traits but on generalized notions derived from popular culture. I
contend that in many instances that the tendency to prejudge other humans is an act of
ignorance more than an intentional behaviour.
Cause and Distinction
Some would think that stereotyping is a subconscious or instinctive action from within,
and that may be considered true, only to a certain degree however. There is a fine
distinction between innate behaviours opposed to conditioned behaviours. Instinct is an
innate behaviour which is part of our natural intuition from the point of which we are
born. Stereotyping would not come as an automatic reflex action in any situation, thus
it can be said that it is not an instinctive behaviour. It is an action which is learned
and conditioned through periods of time, just as racism, sexism, and enthoncentrism,
etc.
There are some cases when stereotyping could indirectly act in one's favour, however the
amount is quite minimal. If a unpleasant looking black male, for example, were following
you in the middle of the night, it would seem unclear whether to foster stereotype ideas
and run like mad to get away, for black people have been portrayed solely as gangsters
and muggers, or remain walking a normal pace and risk getting attacked. Instinct would
likely tell you to run for safety, however the follower being "black" should have nothing
to do with a his credibility. It is the fact that he is following you in the middle of
the night, which is a perfect time to spring an attack. Technically stereotyping really
has nothing to do with this particular situation, however people may say that it does.
Common catalysts for influencing such beliefs like racism, sexism, enthoncentrism, and
stereotyping are media, like newspaper articles and headlines, television programs, and
radio broadcastings, etc. The media has the power to direct any message, however it may
see fit, and affix it to the viewers' thoughts. The media has abused its power to the
point of which it has caused actual fatalities. Approximately during the late 1950's,
for example, there was a sudden unwarranted broadcast stating that the Martians had
landed somewhere in San Fransisco. This broadcast shocked the nation and caused absolute
panic within the hearts of the Americans. Fortunately, the broadcast was revealed to be
false. Consequently, before that could be revealed, people had already begun to flee
from the country and even commit suicide. The initial intention of this broadcast was
for pure entertainment. However, I fail to see a sign of anything entertaining. I
believe this was a test to see how far people would actually go in favour of what they
see or hear. This abusing of power by the media is one of the many fosters of
stereotyping.
Another origin of stereotyping, is through the social pipeline. Social stereotypes and
generalizations derived from popular culture are what I consider to be "prepackaged
labels" we can assign to people. This saves us the time and effort of understanding the
complexities of other human beings different from us. In all fairness, it can be said
that all cultures participate in this endeavor. No one or group has a monopoly on
prejudice and stereotype behaviour.
Closing Statement
I believe that it has been made quite clear that stereotyping is very "wrong", for it
deprives a person of the natural right to be recognised as an individual., something
which we all want and deserve. Sometimes it's easier to say that this person must be
"like this" because his or her people are "all like that" instead of taking time to find
out what the person is really like. Labeling people into certain group might make it
seem easy to understand people, but the truth is it's not easy, because life isn't easy.
There are no shortcuts in understanding the ways people work, for we full of complexities
and a uniqueness which cannot be just "wrapped up" in a single unwarranted perception. I
appreciate the fact that I can be picked out of a group of people for having distinct
differences in qualities, but not based solely on what I look like, but about who "I am."
Being stereotyped robs me of what
I can call myself......an individual. If I were to lose that, then I would have no
reason to live.
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