Most, if not all, of us have fallen victim to a peer, teacher, family member, or even a stranger stereotyping our very existence. Whether it be an uneducated assumption that “all women prefer staying at home with the kids” or “teenagers are lazy,” these generalized statements shove groups of people into boxes that they will never quite fit in.
Minorities of all kinds are the usual subject of such experiences. These demographics include all people: the LGBTQ+ community, women, men, and people of all races. Unfortunately, ignorance to the impact stereotypes have allows for more instances of stereotyping to occur, leaving individuals insecure or ostracized. When people are uneducated about a culture or person, generalizations are extremely easy to make—easier than researching and discovering the harmful impacts their words can have.
Oftentimes, stereotypes are masked as “compliments,” yet they are not received as such. Assuming that your Asian friend is a bad driver or that they will always know the answer to your math problem is truly absurd and outright wrong. Though both of these stereotypes have two different connotations, they have the same impact. There is no such thing as a “good” stereotype because stereotypes lead to the same two outcomes: prejudice and discrimination.
Having a lack of understanding should not be shamed, but instead, held accountable for inflicting negativity on anybody. Not only do “positive” stereotypes make those who don’t fit the standard feel less than, but those who do happen to coincide with the assumption feel like they can never be anything greater than that. Ignorance is not a justification for allowing prejudice or discrimination to infiltrate a person’s life, and it is especially unfair when they are just being themselves.
The reality is, accountability is truly the best way to change your ways and be a safe person for all people to be comfortable with. Not only are such generalizations often false, but also detrimental to one’s identity. We as a society need to be better for ourselves, but more urgently, for each other. In a world where we are all pinned against each other for a myriad of reasons, the least we can do is see each other for the people we truly are, rather than what anyone else thinks we should be.