Respect Part 2: Stereotypes

Respect Part 2

What are Stereotypes? 

Google dictionary says that a Stereotype is "a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing."

Notice it doesn't say a widely held image or idea about anyone who is not white. White people have stereotypes about them just as much as blacks, Asians, Hispanics, etc. 

Now! I am not going to say how all white people are bad, or all black people are bad, or all Asian people are bad, etc. etc. I just want to talk about and issue in American (and lots of other non American) societies. This isn't about racism. Lots of people will equate stereotypes with racism. They are a factor, yes, but just because you believe a stereotype doesn't mean you are racist. It just means you are uneducated. (And in extreme cases you a racist because you don't care if it is true or not.) 

Lets list the stereotypes of today that I have heard or *experienced myself. 

1. Men are strong and do all the work. 
2. Women are not good at sports.
3.  All Mexicans came to America illegally
4. All black and Mexican teens and adult males are drug deals, drug users, or are in gangs, 
5. All Jews are greedy. 
6. Blondes are unintelligent.
7. All lesbians are extremely masculine.
8. All gays are extremely feminine.
9. All Mormons are polygamist.*
10. All Muslims are terrorists.
11. Asians are super smart and are talented with instruments.
12. All white people do not know how to move their hips.*
13. All Latina women can move their hips.
14. All black and Mexican men can rap.
15. All white men cannot rap.

Now those are stereotypes about specific races or genders. But even people from different states have stereotypes. 

1. All Texan's are loud and ride horse.
2. All New Yorkers are rude.
3. All Californians are surfers
4. Anyone from Utah is Mormon.
5. All Idahoans are potato farmers.*
6. Everyone from Nevada gambles.
7. Everyone is Colorado ski's all the time.

And there are plenty more... I only names 7 states out of 50. 

Stereotype's effect on others.

Are stereotypes bad? No. Before you go all hateful at me because they are bad because a, b, and c, first think about your argument and what you are saying. One argument will be, "The stereotype that all Muslims are terrorist is bad because then everyone who believes it will treat anyone who is Muslim badly because of it."

Let me break this argument down. 

1. This argument is based on everyone believing this stereotype
2. And, its bad because of how someone treats you because of it
3. This is a degrading stereotype.

So yes, because of those reasons that stereotype is bad. (The 3rd reason is the biggest). 

But what about the stereotype that Idahoans are potato farmers. That isn't degrading. How else will humans grow potatoes if they aren't farmed. And saying all Asians are super smart is a compliment correct? 

While those stereotypes are not degrading, the second can cause problems for multiple reasons. 

1. Those who are Asian will feel like failures if they get B's instead of A+'s 
2. It can be insulting when those who aren't Asian say to someone who is of that descent "You can't play an instrument? But you're Asian?" 

So we've established that degrading stereotypes are bad. But not all stereotypes are. I am an Idahoan and I don't grow potatoes. In fact the city I grew up in isn't even popular for that. Nampa is known (mostly by those who know who and where we are) for it's huge job creating Sugar Beat Factory. (Sugar beets are one source for... you guessed it... sugar). 

But, I could be offended for being called a potato farmer every time someone calls me that. But I am not. I laugh it off because there is no need to be offended because of ignorance. Not everyone was raised in Idaho (or even knows where it is for that matter). So, me being raised there, it is my job to do so. Now, I've hear people on the internet say it isn't their job to educate people on their culture or experiences or whatever, they can just look stuff up on google.

I disagree. Now, I don't mean go start a blog or a Youtube channel about your little hometown to educate people. What I mean is, if someone refers to a stereotype about your race, religion, hometown (state) or culture, don't get pissed off or offended or yell in their face at how ignorant they are. 

What I mean, is most people that ask you questions or mention an offending stereotype, don't tell them to go look it up, because chances are they wont, or they don't want to hear computer facts. It's not believable to them if they look it up on Google. 

Fixing the Effect on Stereotypes

My solution. Correct them in the moment. Say respectfully, "Hey, not everyone from Idaho is a farmer. While I did live by a cow farm my entire life, I lived in a 4 bed room house in a subdivision."

See simple education irradiated ignorance. Not yelling in people's faces, or cussing them out for being stupid, or telling them to go educate themselves. 

Stereotypes are always going to be around. Ignorance will always be a problem. Don't let either drag you down. Don't let's someone else's belief ruin your life. Don't let ignorance go untreated. Respectfully educate. I stress the Respect because you don't want other's to be yelling and forcing their beliefs on you, so don't be yelling and forcing your's on other. Just simply state facts. You cannot change other people. You can influence them to make a change in themselves but you cannot change them. They have to make that choice on their own and people are more willing to listen to those who treat them with respect than those who get into other's face. 

From personal experience, I would rather listen to people like Comedian Katarina Vrana or Youtuber iisuperwomanii. They are funny, they tell the truth, and they don't yell at other people to believe in something. They can become passionate, but they don't yell at other people. They are kind and honest. If the world was kind, respectful and honest, less problems would happen in society.