SteroTyping People---Why Does it Have to Be this Way?
By mzbubblie
@mzbubblie (3839)
United States
February 24, 2007 9:25am CST
This discussion is going to be a diverse one and a respectful one at that...There are so many different stereotypes that people get labeled.
What makes one want to automatically label one because of gender, the way the talk, how they dress, what type of music they listen to, what they drive, or even where they live....They can either be positive or negative, such as when various nationalities are sterotyped as friendly or unfriendly.
Some Examples:
If a black youth have their pants sagging and listening to rap music, "they are labeled a thug, possibly will rob and harm you"
If a white person live in a trailor park "they are low-lifes and racist" (I even saw a documentary on HBO about Nascar, how it's a white person sport not a black)
If a alot of muslim people are around "it's possible they are terrorist"
If a person(s) has alot of tattoos and piercings "they are weird and lost"
If you live in the projects "you are on welfare and it's also drug infested"
The very same people from stereotyped groups can find this very disturbing as they experience an apprehension of being treated unfairly as well...
For example myself; I love rap music, I love fried chicken (famous for black people..huh) I visit my friends who live in the projects..I hang out with some of my friends with tons of tattoos, And some of them have their pants hanging on, even my youngest brother who if you saw him would probably think he was a thug and up to know good, he actually is the sweetest guy you could ever meet, if you conversed with him, but, I know easily from the jump there are people who stereotype them negatively...Now myself, I live in a very nice area and have a very nice paying corporate job, but I never forget where I came from..That's always been a saying for me...
When I moved to Virginia, back in 1998 from Mobile, Alabama, this was really the first time I really understood and learn diversity with other races. For so long, where I lived I was only surrounded by people of my race, which are blacks.
Growing up, I had never saw interracial relationships, or alot of white, spanish, middle eastern people even on a daily. However, once I moved here, being I am a people-person, I conversed with people of different cultures, races, and learned alot through them...I have a open mind and treat each person as a "individual", no matter what gender, race, where they live etc...I was raised by my grandparents and they always told me to respect anyone who respects me and that carried me a long way once I moved here...
I'm very thankful for my grandparents who had to struggle for a number of years in their younger years, they never let anyone get them down being raised in the very southern part of Alabama (Mobile) where their were alot of racism (KKK) and being called "colored", or the "N word" instead of by name respectfully, or couldn't eat in or go to the restroom in certain places, the list could go on.
So why do some do it? Is it from the upbringing to pass judgement on the next person? Or has society itself play a major role in causing people stereotype in general? Honestly, do you stereotype others? Please share your thoughts, your views, even your own personal experiences with respect of course...Thank you in advance...
6 people like this
10 responses
@western_valleygirl (1363)
• United States
24 Feb 07
I do not know why people do these sorts of things, it is something of great inequality and injustice. I have tried through the years to always be someone that has not hurt any culture, race, or religion, because that is the sort of things that others will do to me. I believe that we are all put on this earth to live together equally, however, there are others that do not feel that way. I have friends of every race, culture, and religion, and I am glad (as you are, that I can be so open-minded). There are those that do not feel that way, and have made negative comments and stereotypes about my ethnicity, and my race, and my religion. And, you would be surprised as to whom and where. I believe that we should not let these things bring us down, but look towards ways to keep ourselves moving forward. The other day I was watching Montel, and he was talking about the same issue, and I have to agree. We must stop it outright, and only then, will people stop ignoring the truth, that there is racism, prejudice, and it is wrong. It does not get us anywhere, it just separates and divides our society.
2 people like this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
24 Feb 07
So very true. That happens today where people separate themselves from others. But the way things are now a days, I doubt that things would change. Society itself has made it hard for people to have a open mind...Oh I don't get home in time to watch Montel. I actually like his shows. By the time I get home, he's wrappin up..
Thank you for responding..
2 people like this
@SnIcKasS (1375)
• Israel
25 Feb 07
Well, scientists prooved that when we are in a group
we usually want to feel better than other "species".
just like animals it makes sense, because this very very
old part of the brain still exists.. it affects out life.
we can't do anything about it.. because we will always feel
better than other people.
@adore225 (29)
• United States
25 Feb 07
I do not understand how people can sterotype another individual because of the color of their skin or their preference in music or clothes. I was raised with pratically nothing and very poor; but i finished school and am very successful and I am comfortable with my life. I grew up in the projects with others who's life took a different path; but i do not judge them. I still hang out with my old friends from the block and nothing is different. We are all equal in my eyes. It is not fat pockets that make you wealthy, it is friends and family that make you truly rich.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
25 Feb 07
Very well said that is true, but it happens, people will sterotype, I think it will always be here as long as more generations are formed and the way their parents, family already think, they probably grow up being the same way, unless they can break the cycle....
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
26 Feb 07
I don't know but I agree I don't think it is right either.I am whit but I feel like God make everyone who they are for a reason myself. I try to get along with everyone the best that I can
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
26 Feb 07
I'm the same way, I respect anyone who respects me...If I get disrespected by anyone of any culture, I just keep on moving...
@smints8985 (1594)
• United States
25 Feb 07
Stereotyping, though it should not be the case, it would be hard to take it away abruptly from peoples way of thinking, for the longest time people have been setting stereotypes for everything, and a lot of times we judge a person with stereotyping qualifications.
It is not right for i believe in individualism, being part of a certain community does not automatically mean that you are one with them, it does not signify that you are what they are. The thing is people have been generalizing for the longest time that it is in our systems and we tend to overlook the possibility that there is something more to a person than their race, culture and whatsoever.
A person will always be unique at a certain characteristic, that is why we should tend to look more on the individualistic nature of man than looking at people that belong to one community as the same.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
25 Feb 07
I believe if people had a open mind to others as a individual not as a whole it would be a lot easier as to how people as a whole treat others...
thank you for responding
@tad1fan (3367)
• Canada
25 Feb 07
What a wonderful post....I grew up in a white neighborhood but had all black friends and was named a 'N lover' my whole life.....this was back in the 80's when I guess people still weren't accepting whites hanging with blacks....but it's unbelievable how here,in 2007,people STILL don't accept it.....after my teen years and I had my first child,I moved to the projects,not because I was on welfare or married to a black man but because all my childhood friends lived there and we were still very close.....I can remember when I was 16,me and 2 of my black girlfriends were walking along the road,heading to the local roller skating rink when a drunk driver came along and hit my 2 girlfriends,I would have been hit as well but one of them 'pushed' me out of the way.....I lost my best friend that night and the other laid in a coma for 3 months.....the 'accident' was NEVER blamed on the 'drunk' driver,or the daark road but instead on 'unruly' black teens who weren't raised properly to know how to behave on a street.....apparently I did because I was white and survivied.....it's just unbelievable how ignorant our societies are these days....
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
25 Feb 07
OH my GOODNESS...I'm sooo sorry to hear that about your friend. Yes, it still happens today...I go back to Alabama as much as I can and when my grandma was living there, I took her to the doctor with my son...Well the doctors office was on the other side of town where majority white people lived. Do you know as I was going into the doctors, a little old white lady came up and said "that's a beautiful colored boy you have"...I almost flipped my WIG...I said excuse me? My grandma just pushed me on along..But man that ruined my whole day...My grandma is saying she don't know any better..Man...oh mann..I still think about that today. I understand what you are saying...But you lived it and saw it you know..You know exactly what I mean...thank you for responding as always..
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
25 Feb 07
It is sad that the world does stereotype people for things that they wear, or the way they talk or the things they do sometimes. We should not be making judgements about people just because of their color or clothes or anything else. I think some of this is due to parents or friends who did this and taught their child to be this way. Society as well is responsible for this happening. We see it all the time in the news as well as in the workplace or other areas. I do not stereotype people as I was raised not to do that and feel it is wrong.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
25 Feb 07
Very much so...I believe it is the upbringing or friends who already do it, and if that person don't have a strong mind they will follow and continue on to think a certain culture is this way when in reality they are not...thank you for responding
@VKXY62 (1605)
• Australia
25 Feb 07
Hello, I don't really see a difference between people of a similar intelligence level. I see many differances between religion and race, yes. Undeserved becuase of pre-misconceptions, yes, I think so. Do I steeotype others? I am beggining to wonder if some muslims are sillier than the Irish, for blowing up their own people. I wish you and yours all the best, from the other side of the planet, cheers from Oz. K. Merhabbah
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
25 Feb 07
I think it is something inherent in people... something evolution has failed to breed out. Though we are not qualified to judge others, it is still a tendency that cannot be easily set aside.
