The War against racial and ethnic stereotypes, who is winning? (racism, solution)
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When a group statistically fits a certain profile you end up with a stereotype. I heard Joy Behar comment on Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs and his divorce from his actress wife for alleged cheating, "well, he is French and he is black." If Rash Lamebrain had said that on the radio, there would have been howls of outrage from the liberal media.
It seems like everyone I meet dismisses negative racial and ethnic stereotypes out of hand, They insist they are never right and there is not even a hint of truth to any of them. I wonder if they really believe this or are they trying to be politically correct.
On the other hand, if the stereotype is positive then it seems to be OK. Here are some examples:
Asians value education
True.
Quote:
Hispanics are family orientated
Only the Catholic ones.
Quote:
Hispanics are hard working
Only the toughest, not the 5' guy from Peru.
Quote:
Blacks are great dancers and are good in sports
They're good in sports that requires explosive muscles and good at hip hop and stuff but not waltzer and other european dances.
The problem with stereotypes is that they give no regard for the individual. When there is stereotyping, the individual is disregarded. The individual is considered nonexistent. For those who see stereotyping as not a bad thing, I have one question, and I would like an answer.
How does stereotyping help the individual who doesn't live up to that stereotype?
I never got the Hispanics are family oriented stereotype, especially since statistics point out that half of Hispanic kids in the U.S grow up in single parent households.
The way I see it, at the end of the day, I have to live in this society. And if I am in this society, I shouldn't have to tolerate being stereotyped. I am also aware that being in the minority in the USA, I am more susceptible to being stereotyped.
Sorry guys, but stereotypes will always exist. The vast majority of stereotypes have some type of basis in reality. You have to judge the individual once you interact with them, but when you're dealing with hundreds of people a day you can't afford to stop and listen to every person's life story.
Anyone who says they don't pre-judge on anything is a flat out liar.
The problem with stereotypes is that they give no regard for the individual. When there is stereotyping, the individual is disregarded. The individual is considered nonexistent. For those who see stereotyping as not a bad thing, I have one question, and I would like an answer.
Not necessarily. Most stereotypes can be done away with in about 5 minutes. But you can't expect every person who walks by you on the street to stop and learn about you. There aren't enough minutes in the day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by green_mariner
How does stereotyping help the individual who doesn't live up to that stereotype?
It doesn't. Life isn't fair. Stereotypes are a natural human instinct and will always exist. So we can either acknowledge them and try to fix the bad ones or try to fool ourselves into thinking they don't exist. Everybody, and I mean everybody, uses stereotypes in their day to day interactions.
Sorry guys, but stereotypes will always exist. The vast majority of stereotypes have some type of basis in reality. You have to judge the individual once you interact with them, but when you're dealing with hundreds of people a day you can't afford to stop and listen to every person's life story.
Anyone who says they don't pre-judge on anything is a flat out liar.
I don't think you understand. Many people often acting on those stereotypes and it can make life very difficult. This is why I don't want to be putting up with crap.
My goal, ultimately, is to not have someone overreact just because I'm upset and act under the idea of "An upset Black person, better call the police because he might do something bad" or "suspicious person walking around or riding bicycle, call the police" or "Black kid in the store, watch him". These things have happened to me and I don't want them happening to me.
Stereotypes are based on what is seen in a few people and applied to everyone. They don't apply to everyone, so applying them to everyone hurts those who don't fit the stereotype. It leaves no room for the individual. How does any of this help ME?
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This battle will always be fought because some stereotypes are simply true. A stereotype is a generalization (not an absolute truth) that only needs to be approximately 30-40% valid. Thus, we get bad stereotypes and then we have those that are pretty spot on (again, generally - not absolutely) such as Puerto Rican women are "fiery" (hot-headed, passionately demonstrative). Now, as a Puerto Rican, I may not catch much flak for saying it (although someone else - an Irishman - may have someone jump all over their case about saying that), but this stereotype is pretty accurate (again, not absolutely - but generally), enough so that I would bet $ on it and I feel confident I would win approximately 60 to 70% of the time.
Not necessarily. Most stereotypes can be done away with in about 5 minutes. But you can't expect every person who walks by you on the street to stop and learn about you. There aren't enough minutes in the day.
It doesn't. Life isn't fair. Stereotypes are a natural human instinct and will always exist. So we can either acknowledge them and try to fix the bad ones or try to fool ourselves into thinking they don't exist. Everybody, and I mean everybody, uses stereotypes in their day to day interactions.
"Life isn't fair" to me, well this is my take on it. Black people have been stereotyped and hated on in the USA, since day one. For me, this is both a personal problem and a historical problem. When someone stereotypes me for being Black, I look at it as no different than what was done back in the 1920's. I know life isn't fair. It doesn't mean I understand or will learn to put up with it.
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