Stereotypes

Ok, I'll start by stating that Stereotyping a person or group of people is wrong. That being said, I've been hearing a lot lately on different forms of media that people are starting to accept stereotypes as something that, and I quote, "come's from a basic truth." I'm not real sure on the truth of that statement. I can tell you that I get tired of being automatically mistaken as some uneducated hick based solely on my accent and my hat (yes, my hat). So, my question is basically this, how true or untrue do you believe stereotypes actually are/can be?

My personal belief on this is basically that stereotypes do come from somewhere. But it becomes racist when you begin to judge an entire group of people based solely on that stereotype alone. This racism amplifies that stereotype and essentially gives it more power, spreading if you will. But that's just my take on it. People should be judged on a person to person basis judged on their actions. If you want to judge them at all that is.

For the most part, stereotypes are a result of confusing what one has personally experienced with how all similar people must be. "All the black people I've known are in a gang, therefor all black people must be in a gang." "All the gay people I've known talk with a high pitched voice, therefor all gay people must talk with a high pitched voice." "All the people I've known with southern accents are uneducated hicks, therefor all people with southern accents must be uneducated hicks."

Then over time these stereotypes spread by word of mouth to people who don't even have contact with this certain group of people until it becomes widely believed and even causes people who belong to this group of people to start thinking that they are supposed to act this way, so they start imitating the stereotype, so it spreads even more.

So yes, there is usually truth to them at first, but it usually gets exaggerated greatly over time.

I disagree that it's wrong when used lightheartedly if everyone could grow to poke fun at all stereotypes (including their own). But since that is just wishful thinking and isn't going to happen, then for the time being, yes, it's wrong.

Stereotypes always have at least a small bit of truth to them-- otherwise they wouldn't have been made at all. But the problem is that most of them are either hateful, ignorant, or outdated. So it's easy to see why they offend so easily.

Again, I just think everyone needs to learn to poke fun at themselves and others. But since so many people take stereotypes as fact or use them to actually judge people, they can be very dangerous.

Originally Posted by Tonchiki

I disagree that it's wrong when used lightheartedly if everyone could grow to poke fun at all stereotypes (including their own). But since that is just wishful thinking and isn't going to happen, then for the time being, yes, it's wrong.

Stereotypes always have at least a small bit of truth to them-- otherwise they wouldn't have been made at all. But the problem is that most of them are either hateful, ignorant, or outdated. So it's easy to see why they offend so easily.

Again, I just think everyone needs to learn to poke fun at themselves and others. But since so many people take stereotypes as fact or use them to actually judge people, they can be very dangerous.

I agree with this for the most part. If we as a society can learn to laugh at those same stereotypes, to make them jokes instead of slurs, then it takes almost all of their power away. Of course, there are always exceptions.

I'm San Francisco-raised, so being in a city with everyone from pretty much everyone means that I've been taught from childhood to being accepting of different cultures, races, colors, and beliefs, not to mention avoiding stereotypes in general. Unfortunately, over the years of my traveling from place to place, including the American South, East Asia, and Europe, I've slowly come to realize that, even today, there's actually more truth to stereotypes than what many are willing to give credit for.

I have to admit that the stereotypes I'm familiar with are far less universal and far less extreme. Using Vondur's examples, I don't believe that "all black people are in a gang" than I do "there are a great number of black people handed the short end of the economic stick, and they have limited access to welfare and education, and, as a result, a great many of them can be less than eloquent". I don't believe that "all Southerners are uneducated hicks" as much as I do "Southerners, by admission, are less well-traveled than their northern counterparts, and are a bit more stubborn and intolerant as a result". Again, though, these stereotypes I see are less than universal; for some time, San Francisco's mayor was Willie Brown, who was black and one of the most popular mayors SF had for some time, while many of the Southerners I've met while working were clearly highly educated, friendly, and accepting. At the same time, however, I also cannot help notice that the people who did not fall into the stereotype numbered to a fraction of their particular group that can be called "exceptions".

As mentioned before, stereotypes come from somewhere. Somewhere along the line, what was said was probably true. This comes from a mixture of cultural upbringing, genetic inheritance, and a lot of factors that create a "group" we can create a single stereotype for. Again, I'm San Francisco-raised, so the stereotypes I'm used to are milder in comparison (San Francisco is the place where racism and stereotypes aren't going to do you any favors), but if I'm asked to swear that stereotyping is incorrect (note that I said "incorrect", not "wrong"), my conscience probably wouldn't allow me to do so.

Now, I personally don't actually like stereotyping, and prefer to judge people by a person-to-person basis. Not to mention that the lack of stereotypes would make my life a lot easier. Yet, honestly, I cannot completely invalidate the legitimacy of stereotypes, and must say that they should be taken with a bit of salt instead of dismissing them outright. Towards myself included. ^_^;

The issue with it, essentially, is not that you may be right or wrong when you use a stereotype, but rather, in stereotyping, you are asserting that, based on a few surface traits (usually skin colour, ethnic background, etc.), an entire group of people have particular characteristics, usually related to intelligence, social conduct, ability, etc. Stereotypes are broad judgments, and as such they can only be applicable in extremely broad sorts of ways, and even still not to everyone - and yet they are still often treated as if they are far more applicable than they really are. There is something fundamentally flawed about stereotyping simply because it does not take into account the extreme amount of variation and uniqueness in every person. This is why stereotyping is always wrong.

Oh, no, I never claimed it was universal. Just...rather broad. Neither did I say it wasn't wrong; I just said it may not necessarily be "incorrect". Does this clarify my position some? ^_^;

Originally Posted by Ysionris

ISan Francisco is the place where racism and stereotypes aren't going to do you any favors

What? Are you joking? I lived in southwest Virginia, very near to Tennessee for all my life up until the summer of 2008. You want to guess where I live now? San Francisco. Well, not in the actual city, but within 20 minutes. I went to Berkeley High School (probably the most liberal high school in America) last year and the early part of this year, and I can personally testify that there is just as much, if not more, stereotyping going on there as there was in Virginia. It just comes in a much different form.

This whole area is literally where you should go if you want to see stereotypes in action. Want to see black people in gangs? Go to Oakland. Want to see gay people with high pitched voices and limp wrists? Go to the Castro district. Want to see Asian people eating pig kidneys and selling trinkets? Go to China Town. Want to see hippies selling acid? Go to Golden Gate Park.

You see? This is where stereotypes are made. San Francisco is an extremely segregated city. It's not the city that shows tolerance for absolutely anyone, it's the city that shows tolerance for absolutely every group of people. Don't belong to a stereotype (group)? Then you don't belong here.

"Diversity" is not a strength. Individuality is.

Everyone is an individual, and I don't believe that I or anyone else belongs to any sort of group based on any certain aspects of their/my self.

It's quite... annoying.. how people try to fit into a precreated personality instead of just embracing their true self. I try my best to not fall for this trick.

I hope this didn't come off as harsh, I didn't mean it that way; simply stating my observations and opinions.

I think stereotypes are funny, and in most cases, after getting to know different people for a long time, I realize that they do to some degree follow their stereotypes and we laugh about it, and we have even made up smaller, community stereotypes in a way. Like the Mexican girls I know have all cheated on their boyfriends several times and demand things from their boyfriends. Or all the Christians are intolerant, ignorant, and act like they are elevated above the rest of us. The football players seem to have this tendency to touch other guys in ways most guys wouldn't touch each other... But everyone is fine with it, and we are only joking. This doesn't mean we go around and assert that if you are a Mexican girl, you demand to be worshiped and cheat on your boyfriend, I can't say we don't wonder... Hahaha. Don't get me wrong, I am not racist or anything. These are just patterns that arose in my home community.

I don't think its "wrong" unless you are completely devoted to it and develop hatred or something toward a group of people because of it. I think it is something that should just be laughed at if anything.

Originally Posted by vondur

What? Are you joking? I lived in southwest Virginia, very near to Tennessee for all my life up until the summer of 2008. You want to guess where I live now? San Francisco. Well, not in the actual city, but within 20 minutes. I went to Berkeley High School (probably the most liberal high school in America) last year and the early part of this year, and I can personally testify that there is just as much, if not more, stereotyping going on there as there was in Virginia. It just comes in a much different form.

This whole area is literally where you should go if you want to see stereotypes in action. Want to see black people in gangs? Go to Oakland. Want to see gay people with high pitched voices and limp wrists? Go to the Castro district. Want to see Asian people eating pig kidneys and selling trinkets? Go to China Town. Want to see hippies selling acid? Go to Golden Gate Park.

You see? This is where stereotypes are made. San Francisco is an extremely segregated city. It's not the city that shows tolerance for absolutely anyone, it's the city that shows tolerance for absolutely every group of people. Don't belong to a stereotype (group)? Then you don't belong here.

"Diversity" is not a strength. Individuality is.

Everyone is an individual, and I don't believe that I or anyone else belongs to any sort of group based on any certain aspects of their/my self.

It's quite... annoying.. how people try to fit into a precreated personality instead of just embracing their true self. I try my best to not fall for this trick.

I hope this didn't come off as harsh, I didn't mean it that way; simply stating my observations and opinions.

It's actually rather funny, because, for some time, I worked in Memphis, Tennessee, not too far from Virginia, and I can moreorless about Memphis the same thing you said about San Francisco. I guess it's a matter of perspective, isn't it? ^_^;

One thing that humans are good at is pattern matching. When we see patterns in something, we generally assume that the part is true for the whole (fallacy of composition). We're not always right and definitely shouldn't assume traits of people we don't know, especially when we know we're just blindly assuming. You can't assume all guys with effeminate voices are gay and you can't assume that those with manly ones aren't. And you shouldn't.

Despite the culturally-infused stereotypes that are so often seen everywhere in every culture at any given time, I try mostly to ignore them. This, of course, is easier said than done because stereotypes are so often used that many people often mistake them for truth. This is why homosexual men are almost always portrayed being effeminate with an infirmity for fashion, and homosexual women are portrayed as emasculate and hairy. While this is the stereotype, the above is actually true only some of the time. So, all in all, while a person cannot help but notice stereotypes, it would be in their best interest not to act out or voice them.

I personally believe stereotypes are fun in good humor, but not cool when used to make fun of other people.

A lot of people believe in stereotypes without even realizing it. A basic example is when people encounter someone who is open about their feelings or problems. The majority of the time people will call the person an "attention whore". An attention whore is, in itself, a stereotype. Do people ever stop to consider that this "attention whore" is just being honest, and isn't trying to get attention? Not really. We live in a society today where it's considered abnormal to be honest about your feelings. It isn't right.

People apply stereotypes like this to others and then don't take the other person seriously. Feelings can get hurt this way. It's wrong to make an assumption about anyone without actually getting to know them first. Stereotyping a group of people is wrong as well. When you stereotype someone and you are actually serious, you're being disrespectful to them. Just because they act or dress a certain way you have already shoved their personality into a category without giving them a chance. People deserve the benefit of the doubt.

And think about this, for people who support stereotyping others: if someone shoved you into a category, you'd most likely say "people who do that aren't worth my time anyway". It means you have to say the same thing about yourself: you aren't even worth the other person's time if you stereotype them.

Stereotypes can be applied in fiction or in friendly jokes, but not in serious encounters.

It's not fair to stereotype people as a whole... HOWEVER, there actually are individuals who live up to certain stereotypes... so while it may be wrong, to a certain extent they are based off of actual people. You can't ignore that.

What's even sadder, though, are the people who intentionally try to live up to stereotypes because they think it's cool.

Originally Posted by Ysionris

It's actually rather funny, because, for some time, I worked in Memphis, Tennessee, not too far from Virginia, and I can moreorless about Memphis the same thing you said about San Francisco. I guess it's a matter of perspective, isn't it? ^_^;

Yes, it is all perspective. There really aren't that many differences between different places and cultures. At the root it's all the same, just packaged differently. San Francisco has rainbow flags and the south has confederate flags. Think of it as a comparison to high school stereotypes. The goths have Hot Topic and the preps have Ambercrombie.

Originally Posted by sage_of_fire

I can tell you that I get tired of being automatically mistaken as some uneducated hick based solely on my accent and my hat (yes, my hat).

That's odd, I've always seen you as more of a violent hippie.

Originally Posted by Tonchiki

I
Again, I just think everyone needs to learn to poke fun at themselves and others. But since so many people take stereotypes as fact or use them to actually judge people, they can be very dangerous.

Agreed. People get so worked up over hte smallest things now. Take a joke.

Originally Posted by vondur

"Diversity" is not a strength. Individuality is.

Very true. Well said.


I think steryotype jokes are probably some of the funniest out there. I've found that deep down most people actually do fit into some sort of steryotype about them selves. For example, after MJ died, I was joking around with my friend that all the black people were sad because he was a hero to many of them. Sure enough, at school all we had to say to a black person was "Are you doing okay?" to start a conversation about Micheal Jackson. It was funny, and when we explained it to them, they laughed as well.

As vondour said though, people try to hard to either avoid being a steryotype at all costs, or to fit right in as a social clique. But whe we just let go and be our selves, that's when we start finding all this stuff funny.

As for my self, I'm a Canadian who plays hockey and lacrosse, loves winter, builds a rink in my back yard every year, wears a plaid flannel jacket, has a flag hanging in my room, and is quite polite, friendly and accepting. I am the Canadian steryotype, and I make fun of it a lot. But I don't try to be like this, it's just who I am. And funny enough, I don't know anyone else who fits into all those sterytypes.

Originally Posted by Mattocks

That's odd, I've always seen you as more of a violent hippie.



Agreed. People get so worked up over hte smallest things now. Take a joke.


Very true. Well said.


I think steryotype jokes are probably some of the funniest out there. I've found that deep down most people actually do fit into some sort of steryotype about them selves. For example, after MJ died, I was joking around with my friend that all the black people were sad because he was a hero to many of them. Sure enough, at school all we had to say to a black person was "Are you doing okay?" to start a conversation about Micheal Jackson. It was funny, and when we explained it to them, they laughed as well.

As vondour said though, people try to hard to either avoid being a steryotype at all costs, or to fit right in as a social clique. But whe we just let go and be our selves, that's when we start finding all this stuff funny.

As for my self, I'm a Canadian who plays hockey and lacrosse, loves winter, builds a rink in my back yard every year, wears a plaid flannel jacket, has a flag hanging in my room, and is quite polite, friendly and accepting. I am the Canadian steryotype, and I make fun of it a lot. But I don't try to be like this, it's just who I am. And funny enough, I don't know anyone else who fits into all those sterytypes.

Welcome to reality, eh?

Heh heh, violent hippy, nice.

Anywho, I can pretty much only reinforce what you and Tonchiki have said. Most stereotype joke, when not laden with malicious intent, tend to be pretty funny. I laugh at southerner jokes to say the least.

Stereotypes are just the security needs of the human mind (essentially like any living thing). You see a burner is on and too hot to touch, you use a stereotype from burners of the same type in the past burning you. To say stereotyping is wrong, is to say "leap before you look".

There is a form of bad stereotyping, and that's when someone becomes closed minded; or otherwise unwilling to accept a possible exception. For example, if I see a teen using slang with rugged/baggy trademark clothes, I'd assume they're severely lacking intelligence and basic life experience. However, I wouldn't treat them with that assumption, and instead give them a chance to paint me a new image, their image. If you live on stereotypes alone, your life will be very unfulfilling and otherwise lonely in comparison to giving an open mind and chance to people.

However, sometimes there's the whole point of stereotypes being a safety necessity. Safe if you see someone acting indifferently (directly hostile or just active) away from you, you'd assume this guy is dangerous from previous experience. This is where stereotyping is more of an accepted and safe asset to have and is why it exists. It's your body trying to learn and make sense of the world by having you identify with similarities.

The mind functions using patterns, when you examine something and try to make sense of it you're trying to identify similarities, compare past experiences. It's to protect and inform, as the unknown scares us