Stereotypes, also known as labeling, occur when we see people through lens that is not accurate. Instead of perceiving people as richly complex beings, we believe they are limited to behaving in certain ways that are based on a myriad of different unrealistic categories, such as race, class, or gender. We establish certain expectations of these stereotyped groups, ignoring the fact that human beings are complicated creatures. For instance, we might believe that one ethnicity of people choose to eat only certain types of food, dress only in a certain way, or behave in a particular fashion. The reality and truth about these individuals typically, however, is different from what is being depicted by society’s hegemonic stereotypes.
Labels are for CLOTHES not PEOPLE.
Labels, limiting factors that must be reduced to only a few words, are one dimensional and should not be used to categorize people.
In sociology, this is known as the labeling theory. This field highlights how someone who is given a label or stereotype -- over time -- can turn into that given expectation. In addition, it also gives insight on how people who deviate from these expectations can, in return, have lower self-images and feel withdrawn from society. The University of Toronto exhibited other consequences of stereotyping during an experiment where it was seen that “people are more likely to be aggressive after they’ve faced prejudice in a given situation. They are more likely to exhibit a lack of self-control. They have trouble making good, rational decisions. And they are more likely to over-indulge on unhealthy foods.” (PsychCentral)
In this video (above) , a lady is an early reader who gets American and British literature. She is not getting access to her own culture’s stories. As a result, she writes only about what she had learned not about what she had experienced while living in Nigeria. She did not relate to the other literature writers since she didn’t know about snow, never discussed weather in real life, and had never even seen a white person with blue eyes. However, she felt she had to mold into society’s ideas. The danger in this literature stereotype of beautiful and most idealistic to write about being white, colored eyed, and straight haired, was that it made her unable to realize she was okay as she was. The speaker demonstrates the negative impact of stereotypes upon her life.
In a comedic approach, this video (above) sheds light on how ridiculous racial stereotypes, especially, when one looks in retrospect on how no one ever questions the hegemonic predominantly white superiority. A jogging man runs up to an Asian woman. He automatically assumes she is not American. He asks her where she was from -- she tells him she was from Orange County. After much small talk and confusion, he finds out she is Korean. He starts talking about a Korean joint near his house assuming that since she is Korean that she must be fond of Korean food. In a dignified manner, she turns the questions around and asks him where he is from. He says England. She starts mocking him by doing all sorts of English impressions. She says that his people’s fish and chips are amazing. The dramatic irony used in this clip helps rely the message that we are equal citizens regardless of our culture or background.
Stereotypes can influence how others view and individual. Since stereotypes can be misrepresentations, it is evident in this video how stereotyping can cause privilege and discrimination in society.
It is our time to stop putting boxes around humans and letting individuals be seen for who they are not who society believes they are.
Stereotypes and labels may appear to be problematic but not necessarily a crisis -- except they are just that -- drastic, dangerous problems that can lead to horrifying things, such a mass exterminations of people. For example, the stereotyping of Jews led to a holocaust. History is known to repeat itself. Furthermore, the end result of stereotypes could be, in fact, eugenics (a belief that our very heredity can be “cleansed”). Eugenics, of course, leads to genocides, the killing off of massive numbers of people, such as was the case for the Jewish exterminations during WWII and the millions of people murdered in genocides occurring throughout history all over the world. Places like Armenia, which experienced the Armenian Genocide, Burundi, which experienced the Burundi Genocide, Darfur, the Sudan, and in Somalia. Stereotypes need to be stopped immediately in order not to risk the perpetuating cycle.
Today, even as this website is being created, one of the world’s greatest leaders, Nelson Mandela, is in a hospital dying. By the time you see this page, he may already be dead. Like other great leaders around the world, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Mandela’s poignant call for an end to apartheid in South Africa is a lesson for us all. All people “have a dream” to be seen as individuals rather than labels and stereotypes -- as fully authentic creatures who are more than body parts, skin color, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical disability. We are rational beings who can think, and feel, and love. We can move past symbols and language that are limiting and demeaning. We can -- together -- begin to build our fires, cook our food, pray to our deities, and to harmoniously share this small blue green planet known as Earth. It is time to see each other as HUMAN and not LABELS.
Stereotypes
Stereotypes, also known as labeling, occur when we see people through lens that is not accurate. Instead of perceiving people as richly complex beings, we believe they are limited to behaving in certain ways that are based on a myriad of different unrealistic categories, such as race, class, or gender. We establish certain expectations of these stereotyped groups, ignoring the fact that human beings are complicated creatures. For instance, we might believe that one ethnicity of people choose to eat only certain types of food, dress only in a certain way, or behave in a particular fashion. The reality and truth about these individuals typically, however, is different from what is being depicted by society’s hegemonic stereotypes.
Labels are for CLOTHES not PEOPLE.
In sociology, this is known as the labeling theory. This field highlights how someone who is given a label or stereotype -- over time -- can turn into that given expectation. In addition, it also gives insight on how people who deviate from these expectations can, in return, have lower self-images and feel withdrawn from society. The University of Toronto exhibited other consequences of stereotyping during an experiment where it was seen that “people are more likely to be aggressive after they’ve faced prejudice in a given situation. They are more likely to exhibit a lack of self-control. They have trouble making good, rational decisions. And they are more likely to over-indulge on unhealthy foods.” (PsychCentral)
In this video (above) , a lady is an early reader who gets American and British literature. She is not getting access to her own culture’s stories. As a result, she writes only about what she had learned not about what she had experienced while living in Nigeria. She did not relate to the other literature writers since she didn’t know about snow, never discussed weather in real life, and had never even seen a white person with blue eyes. However, she felt she had to mold into society’s ideas. The danger in this literature stereotype of beautiful and most idealistic to write about being white, colored eyed, and straight haired, was that it made her unable to realize she was okay as she was. The speaker demonstrates the negative impact of stereotypes upon her life.
In a comedic approach, this video (above) sheds light on how ridiculous racial stereotypes, especially, when one looks in retrospect on how no one ever questions the hegemonic predominantly white superiority. A jogging man runs up to an Asian woman. He automatically assumes she is not American. He asks her where she was from -- she tells him she was from Orange County. After much small talk and confusion, he finds out she is Korean. He starts talking about a Korean joint near his house assuming that since she is Korean that she must be fond of Korean food. In a dignified manner, she turns the questions around and asks him where he is from. He says England. She starts mocking him by doing all sorts of English impressions. She says that his people’s fish and chips are amazing. The dramatic irony used in this clip helps rely the message that we are equal citizens regardless of our culture or background.
Stereotypes can influence how others view and individual. Since stereotypes can be misrepresentations, it is evident in this video how stereotyping can cause privilege and discrimination in society.
It is our time to stop putting boxes around humans and letting individuals be seen for who they are not who society believes they are.
Stereotypes and labels may appear to be problematic but not necessarily a crisis -- except they are just that -- drastic, dangerous problems that can lead to horrifying things, such a mass exterminations of people. For example, the stereotyping of Jews led to a holocaust. History is known to repeat itself. Furthermore, the end result of stereotypes could be, in fact, eugenics (a belief that our very heredity can be “cleansed”). Eugenics, of course, leads to genocides, the killing off of massive numbers of people, such as was the case for the Jewish exterminations during WWII and the millions of people murdered in genocides occurring throughout history all over the world. Places like Armenia, which experienced the Armenian Genocide, Burundi, which experienced the Burundi Genocide, Darfur, the Sudan, and in Somalia. Stereotypes need to be stopped immediately in order not to risk the perpetuating cycle.
Today, even as this website is being created, one of the world’s greatest leaders, Nelson Mandela, is in a hospital dying. By the time you see this page, he may already be dead. Like other great leaders around the world, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Mandela’s poignant call for an end to apartheid in South Africa is a lesson for us all. All people “have a dream” to be seen as individuals rather than labels and stereotypes -- as fully authentic creatures who are more than body parts, skin color, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical disability. We are rational beings who can think, and feel, and love. We can move past symbols and language that are limiting and demeaning. We can -- together -- begin to build our fires, cook our food, pray to our deities, and to harmoniously share this small blue green planet known as Earth. It is time to see each other as HUMAN and not LABELS.
University of Toronto