WHAT IS A STEREOTYPE?

According to Google, the definition of a stereotype is this: "a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing". Simplified, a stereotype is placing someone in a category based off of how society typically judges them due to a common characteristic such as gender, race, religion, appearance, or character trait. Stereotypes form according to views passed down by parents, ideas presented in the media, and peer interaction. This is generally a negative assumption that can be damaging to the person it is projected on. Unfortunately, because stereotypes are so widespread, most of the perpetrators of stereotypes are not even aware that they are doing it. Because we can only take in information from a single perspective, your own perspective, our opinions of the world around us are bound to be biased. This does not mean that there is no hope of shattering steretypes and adopting a more open-minded view, but it does mean that education and discussion of stereotypes and their consequences is essential. Through this narrative, we can gain new insight on our neighbors and peers and grow in empathy to be able to see the world from another person’s view.

Check back for the next article: Why is stereotyping bad?