Stereotyping in 2012: Ignorance is not Bliss

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