Stereotyping Isolates People and Closes Minds

     Throughout each of our lives, we spend much of our time identifying and categorizing each new experience. This is most likely the result of self-preservation, so that we can notice potential dangers more quickly. Although it is somewhat easy to pigeon-hole something, it is much more difficult to move it to an entirely new category. This could be why many people have difficulty overcoming irrational fears. Stereotyping happens when we use this process to categorize people, or groups of people. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the term “stereotype” as “A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing” (oxforddictionaries.com); but it does not offer a definition for “stereotyping.” I define stereotyping as "the act of assigning characteristics to a person, or group of people, due to their race, gender, age, sexual preference, etc. with the express goal (whether you are aware of it or not) of forcing them into your own world view".

     Having a predisposed opinion about a particular person might be a good thing. With the rise of violent crime, being able to quickly access possible dangers can save your life. According to an article by Stephanie Ericsson entitled “The Way We Lie”, our modern communication relies upon stereotypes.

Our need for vast amounts of information in
nanoseconds has made the stereotype vital to
modern communication. Unfortunately, it often
shuts down original thinking, giving those hungry
for the truth a candy bar of misinformation
instead of a balanced meal.

However, stereotypes are usually inaccurate, often negative, and always dangerous because you are forming life-altering opinions about an individual’s character, skills, mindset, and beliefs based on little or no information. Split-second decision-making is for topics that you are intimately familiar with, not subjects that need research and study. Over the years, I have consistently stated that I hate stereotypes, but I have recently been reminded that I use them all the time; everybody does. I was truly convinced that all police officers and politicians were corrupt (as if it were possible that all of them were corrupt). We tell the “harmless” blond joke, or we say things like; all colored people are good at sports, all Asians are smart, all Irishmen drink, all women are nurturers, all men are good providers, and all deaf people can read lips; none of these things are true. In doing this, you rob those people of their individuality, and rob yourself of an opportunity to get to know some really wonderful people. Stereotyping is the cornerstone; the primary building block that has a direct link to racism, sexism, ageism, bigotry, and many other forms of hatred.

     Other than the overabundant racism problem that we have in our country, there are several groups of people (immigrants, the overweight, the disabled, & the elderly) who are victims of stereotypes; each of these groups of people must deal with daily prejudices.

     It is well-known that there is an immigration problem in the United States; but when most people think of immigrants, the first thought is not of the hard-working people who want the opportunities that only America can offer. We think of Mexican people sneaking across our borders; abused welfare, gangs, crime, and stolen jobs. When the phrase “illegal alien” comes up, oftentimes it is the Mexican people who come to mind. It is easy to understand why this is; according to CNN “Fifty-eight percent of the illegal immigrant population is from Mexico” (news.blogs.cnn.com). Stereotyping immigrants usually means calling them lazy, tax dodgers, illegal, hostile, and gang-bangers. While some of them fit these descriptions, most do not. Rarely does anybody thank these people for doing the exploitive jobs that Americans do not want to do. It is not that we don’t want the work; it is that we don’t want to work for the low salary offered. “The majority of illegal workers hold service, construction, manufacturing”, and “agricultural jobs.” “These are jobs that Americans will do, if paid a fair wage” (numbersusa.org). Immigrants are often underpaid, work in unsafe conditions, and are not appreciated for the work they do. But without them doing these jobs, we would not have the results of their labor.

     The good news is that we are not limiting ourselves to stereotyping people from other countries; we are just as judgmental to our own citizens, those whom we consider as undesirable, based purely upon their looks. As of 2010, roughly 70% of all adults in the United States are overweight (cdc.gov), and 35% of our population is obese (cdc.gov). An article on the Huffington Post website states:

The stigma surrounding obesity is well established.
Obese individuals, often thought to practice poor
hygiene and laziness, are discriminated against
in the areas of education and employment
(huffingtonpost.com).

Another article on the Huffington Post website, states that “women are routinely insulted in public simply because they are heavy”, and “complete strangers feel entitled to comment on what heavier people put in their shopping carts” (huffingtonpost.com). Many people consider overweight people as weak-willed, unlikeable, untrustworthy, and less intelligent than thin people. It’s bad enough that overweight people must shop at the “big and tall” stores, or buy two seats on an airplane (smartertravel.com); some of what they face is unavoidable. Is there a particular reason that we have to ridicule them too? How can anybody possibly justify the belief that all overweight people are untrustworthy or unintelligent; it makes no sense to me. Stereotyping overweight people can lead to open hatred, depression, medical problems, and sometimes suicide (suicide.org).

     Now, some overweight people are responsible for their own condition, but what about those that are not capable of changing their situation? A stereotype against disabled people is not only cruel, but it can cause harm as well. There are many disabled people in the United States. According to a 2010 census, nearly 19% of the United States' population has some form of disability (census.gov); that’s 54 million people. From my many years working in homeless ministries, I have noticed that disabled people are often looked upon as beggars, objects of pity, and as little more than animals. I have seen many people who do not see them this way; they treat them with kindness, compassion, and respect. However, most of the people whom I have observed act as if the disabled were invisible, or if they notice them at all, they openly despise them. I used to think this way; when I thought of the disabled, I imagined victims of horrible diseases, car accidents, and tragedies of birth. I saw the homeless, the broken, and the mentally incompetent; I saw people who needed me to help take care of them, and I saw a drain on society. Actually, I did not really see them as people at all; what I saw was a burden, an inconvenience, and something that needs pity. Often, I just felt guilty that I was so much better than them. Many people still see things as I once did. This is yet another danger of stereotyping. Some of things shown above might very well be true, but many disabled people are not mentally unstable, and some do not want or need any help at all. However, all people deserve kindness, compassion, and respect. I can understand how some people can pass judgment on those they feel are infiltrating our borders, those they find unappealing, or those who remind them to feel compassion; but why do we stereotype those that we will inevitably become a part of?

     Stereotyping the elderly is probably worse than all the others I have mentioned before, as it fills us with the fear of growing old, and prevents us from profiting from wisdom and knowledge that is readily available to us. As of 2009, there were about 40 million senior citizens (65 years or older) in the United States; this is almost 13% of our population (aoa.gov). By 2050, it expected to increase to 80 million (census.gov). What do we do with this reservoir of knowledge and wisdom? We “retire” them from their careers, take their homes and savings, and put them in nursing homes, retirement communities, and hospices. We attach labels to the elderly like enfeebled, useless, old, cranky, gullible, hard of hearing, & mentally incompetent. While some of these may very well be true, it is not possible for all of them to hold these characteristics. We act as if they have nothing left to offer to our lives and society, forget all about them, and go about our business. My grandfather would write my name in a calendar every time I visited, so that I would remember how often I would forget about him. I used to think he was just nagging me, but this behavior was hurting his feelings; and now that I am getting older, and my children are treating me the same way, I am beginning to finally understand. It is just too easy to get so involved in our own lives, that there is no room for anybody else. When we retire (God forbid) after the age of 65, is this how we wish others will treat us?

     Stereotyping is the act of assigning characteristics to a person, or group of people, due to their race, gender, age, sexual preference, etc. with the express goal (whether aware of it or not) of forcing them into one’s own world view. However, stereotypes are usually inaccurate, often negative, and always dangerous because you are forming life-altering opinions about an individual’s character, skills, mindset, and beliefs based on little or no information. We target people daily with stereotypes, and it is all too easy to do. Rarely, is great reward gained from what is easy; true value usually is the result of effort or difficulty. Take the time to assess a situation or person and decide if there is danger involved. If there is, then avoid it; but if not, do not oversimplify anybody’s characteristics, beliefs, or mindset without first taking a substantial amount of time to get to know them. You might be surprised by what you find.

~Charles P. Scott

Works Cited

Administration of Aging. “Aging Statistics” (2013), Pages. 20 Nov 2013, Link.

Caruso, Kevin, Suicide.org. “Morbid Obesity, Depression, and Suicide” (n.d.), Pages. 19 Nov 2013,Link.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Obesity and Overweight” (2010), Pages. 19 Nov 2013, Link.

CNN.com blogs. “Facts on Immigration in the United States” (2012). Pages, 19 Nov 2013,Link.

Ericsson, Stephanie. “The Ways We Lie” Patterns for College Writing: A Rhetorical Reader and Guide. Laurie G. Kirszner & Stephen R. Mandell. New York: Bedford/St.Martin’s, 2012. 474-483.

Hamady, Jennifer, HuffingtonPost.com. “Food addiction label increases stigma for obese individuals” (2013). Pages, 19 Nov 2013, Link.

Landsel, David, SmarterTravel.com. “Some Airlines Make Obese Passengers Buy Two Seats” (2008). Pages, 19 Nov 2013, Link.

NumbersUSA.org. “Jobs Americans Won’t Do?” (n.d.). Pages, 20 Nov 2013, Link.

Oxford English Dictionary. “Definition of Stereotype in English” (2013). Pages, 19 Nov 2013, Link.

Saguy, Abigail, HuffingtonPost.com. “Weight-Based Stigma and Bullying” (2012), Pages. 19 Nov 2013, Link.

United States Census Bureau. “20th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act” (2010), Pages. 19 Nov 2013, Link.

United States Census Bureau. “Sixty-Five Plus in the United States” (1995), Pages. 20 Nov 2013, Link.