I hate stereotypes. They’re annoying, faulty and ultimately destructive.
It’s like taking the easy way out. How do you truly get to know a person if you
already built preconceived notions about who they are based on something as
silly as their appearance?
“All black people
like fried chicken.” “All Asian’s are great at math.” “All blondes are
stupid.”
I know for a fact that I
dislike fried chicken.
James, who is
part Korean, has to study tirelessly to get decent grades in his finance
classes. And a very dear friend of mine, who graduated last semester with a 4.0.,
has a head full of blonde hair. I don’t think of us as exceptions. I think of
us as people. As unique individuals.
Back when I worked in retail, I had the misfortune of
working with a lady who was borderline racist. Or clueless. I’m not really sure
which. But whenever someone who wasn’t white walked into the store, she was on
them like white on rice. Asking them that one simple question designed to urk
the heck out of anyone that it’s being directed to. “Do you need help finding
something?”
And it wasn’t just the question itself. It was the tone that she
used when asking it. She used this “I know what you’re planning on doing, so
I’m making sure that you know that I’m watching you” tone. She would then proceed to follow them around
the store, hovering over them and pretending to rearrange things, until the
customer would finally get fed up and leave.
Then she would come back with this huge smile on her face.
As if she’d accomplished something by driving away potential business. On the rare occasion that I even bothered to
ask why she felt the need to follow them. She would always say that she had
seen them do something suspicious. Riiggghhhtt. Apparently being Black,
Hispanic or Native American is considered suspicious enough to warrant being
tailed around the store.
So why do I think stereotypes are destructive? Let’s take it
back to basic psychology. There’s this little thing called self-fulfilling
prophecies. Which is defined as, “a
previously false definition of a person or situation evoking a new behavior
which makes the original false conception become true.” Basically if you treat someone a certain way
based on stereotypes, it can sometimes inadvertently cause them to believe it
so much, that they begin to behave in that manner. Remember the Golden Rule, "treat others they way you would like to be
treated." If you don't want people stereotyping you, then why would you
do it to them?
My challenge to you is to get to know someone better. Step a
bit outside your comfort zone. You may never guess just by looking at me that
I enjoy going to the Charlotte Symphony, love classic black and white films and
tune into NPR every time I get in the car.
I wonder what else you would never guess about someone who looks a
little bit different than you. Take the time to find out. You never know who
you might meet in the process.
Photo creds: 1)
luvimages.com 2)
dontstereotypeme.blogspot.com
XOXO Reese
