This lesson was all about stereotypes. Our perspective on different stereotypes, if we've ever been stereotyped or if we've ever stereotyped someone. We had several questions about stereotyping, and I thought this lesson was quite interesting.
EDUC 2120 – Lesson 12 – Stereotypes
Evaluation
Describe some common American stereotypes. Explain your perspective on the stereotypes you described.
One common American stereotype that first popped in my head is all Asians are smart. This is a very common stereotype that everyone knows and has probably used at least once in their life. I think this stereotype is positive but can still offend the Asians who aren’t as smart as people think they are, and so they feel they are letting their peers down. This stereotype could become harmful to them and lower their ego if they aren’t as smart as people think. Another stereotype that most have heard is how boys who don’t like sports are gay. This stereotype just actually makes me furious. Just to label someone gay makes me furious. My thought on this stereotype is if you don’t know anything about a person, you don’t know their lifestyle and what they like, just keep your mouth shut, because not all boys who don’t like sports are gay. What some people don’t realize is that some boys who like sports happen to be gay, so this stereotype is dumb and isn’t accurate at all, just like all the other stereotypes used.
Do you or have you ever stereotyped someone? Explain.
I’ve been stereotyped before, but I’ve also stereotyped someone else. A few years ago at camp, I decided to stereotype this girl, because she looked like a snob (the same stereotype that I’ve been put under). At the end of the week, I met the girl and I found out that I was wrong about my assumption of her and I felt really bad about it. She was one of the nicest girls I’ve met. I will forever remember this just because it taught me that stereotyping isn’t the way to go. We should never stereotype people if we know nothing about them.
Is there a difference between stereotype and prejudice? Explain.
I honestly think that there’s not really that big of a difference between the two. With both, stereotype and prejudice, you’re making assumptions about someone that you don’t know and that you’ve never met before. The exact definition of stereotype is an image or an idea of a particular type of person or thing, when prejudice is a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. So, in my opinion, I don’t think there’s a difference between the two. They can both do damage to another person either way.
“There is nothing wrong with stereotyping people”. React to this statement.
I don’t agree with this statement. Stereotyping shouldn’t even be done because it can be harmful to others. I know that some people look a certain way, but more than likely if you stereotype someone and you meet them, your assumption was/is wrong. Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Can stereotyping be harmful or offensive? Provide an example.
Stereotyping can definitely be harmful or offensive to others, it can also lower their self-esteem. For example, if someone were to tell a girl that she looked like a snob because she’s pretty, always dresses up, and she doesn’t talk to anyone but her own circle of friends, that’s going to hurt her. The girl that is being stereotyped may just have nice clothes, she could be really shy and doesn’t feel comfortable talking to others if she doesn’t know them, and of course, she can’t help what she looks like. I chose this example because I’ve been told I looked stuck up because of the way I look. I apparently have this face that is uninviting to people, and even though I know that I can’t help what I look like, it still bothers me that people think I’m a snob because of the way I look.
Can stereotyping be good or positive? Provide an example.
An idea of a stereotype can be good or positive, but the person that is being stereotyped against, probably wouldn’t be pleased. For example, the stereotype that all Asian’s are smart is a good stereotype, because nothing is wrong with being smart, right? But, because of this stereotype everyone thinks that Asians know everything and don’t need any academic help like their other peers. That’s when a good stereotype can be turned into bad and can cause damage to that person because in reality an Asian student may need help with Math or Science just like any other student, but here we all are thinking that Asian students know everything and don’t need any help, so then their grades suffer. So, I think in a way an idea can be a positive stereotype, but that good stereotype will always come back to being bad or hurtful.
What did Nell’s (daughter of Jill Bates) teacher tell her when she lost a game at recess? Describe her mother’s reaction.
Nell’s teacher told her that she was “too pretty to cry” simply just trying to cheer the little girl up. Jill Bates was appreciative that Nell’s teacher was just trying to smooth things over with Nell, but Bates told her daughter that being pretty has nothing to do with crying, that everyone cries. She told her that it’s okay to cry whenever you are sad. While Bates was trying to get her point across, she bought her daughter a t-shirt that said “Pretty’s Got Nothing To Do With It”.
Regarding the “Anchor Woman” video – Provide your opinion concerning this video.
I was completely stunned that a man that doesn’t even watch the news channel would comment on a woman’s appearance who he doesn’t even know. Nothing he said was okay, and I completely agree with everything she had said in that video. To me, I think that she is the perfect role model for young girls around this world, unlike the man that wrote her that note thought. I think it’s important that young girls don’t let their bullies get to them, like Jennifer did herself. She was also correct about how adults of young children need to be the example of what they want their children to be. If you comment on someone’s appearance and it’s not kind, you better expect your child to do the same. Children learn from their elders. One thing that stood out to me that Jennifer said was “Do not let your self-worth be defined by your bullies”. This video was great, I enjoyed it.
Regarding the “Top 10 sexist Moments” – Provide your opinion concerning this article.
The media just makes me mad. They never tell the whole story, and they never tell even half the truth of the story that they are telling. All they care about is popularity, and how they can make a good story go viral. The media is bias on everything. You name it, they’re biased against. It amazes me how such people can say such things about others just for attention. Why not focus on the REAL story and let those people get the recognition they deserve for what they did and not for a lie that was made up? The problem with the world is that no one can tell the truth and everyone is just asking for attention. If we all stuck with the real story and followed the truth behind everything, just imagine the world.
Provide your comments concerning the video “How the Media has Failed Women”.
Some of the things I seen and heard in the video, I was shocked. I was just stunned by some of the comments that were made about women. Although, one thing that was mentioned that seemed to be true about the indecisiveness (because most women are), it still doesn’t give people (men) the right to “hate” on women because of certain things, and make ugly, unnecessary comments about women.
Summary
Stereotyping is an important topic, and I found this lesson interesting, as I have all the others. This lesson gave me more knowledge on stereotyping people than I had before.
Research Question
Why are women discriminated against the most?
Reference(s): http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2006/05/14/why-women-are-discriminated-against.html
Research Analysis
It’s obvious that women are discriminated against in society, and there is persuasive evidence that women do not have equal rights in society as the men do. Education is one example where women are discriminated against. Although, there are both sexes going into education. According to the 2003 National Census, there are far more boys going on to a higher education than girls. There are slightly more men working than women. Even in the fields where there are men and women working together, women tend to get paid less than the men, even when they do the same job.
Discrimination against women exists due to the fact that women are superior to men. Women have the advantage. Men can do anything that women can do. Women have moved out from being ‘the traditional housewives’ into the real workforce to work as doctors, drivers, soccer players, boxers, etc. On the other hand, women can’t do everything that men can do. Because of this sexual superiority, discrimination against women exist.
Research Summary
My research interests and surprises me. Just from reading my article, I see that women are being discriminated against. The one thing that stood out to me the most is how women do the same job as men, but still get paid less. This isn’t right. If women are doing just as good of a job as their men coworkers, don’t you think they should get paid the same? They work just as hard as the men do to get a paycheck.