“Yo Jay-Kwon! We going to the movies Friday Night?” This was heard in the halls of my school. It wasn’t what was said that caused a debate between my friends but the person who was yelling this across the hall. Before I continue I know I am bound to offend some people. In fact though the only people that should be offended are those that agree with the Stereotypes I am about to mention. Caution please discontinue reading if you are the type of person easily upset, or often like hunting down people off the internet. (I wasn’t joking about the last one either). This shouting across the hall is a common stereotype of the African American race as being loud (I.E. Movie Theaters) . Now there are many Stereotypes out there and we can recognize them easily. From Asian’s being smart, Mexicans mowing Lawns, Jewish people being greedy and from white people that live in mobile homes to wearing White Tank Tops referred to as “Wife Beaters”.
Recognizing these stereotypes is easily done, but what makes these stereotypes survive. We all know that a race or religion doesn't have a majority of what the Stereotype ensues. So what allows for us to associate a race with a given stereotype? It’s rather simple stereotypes are created by the people that act the way the stereotype says, and it’s main ingredient is ‘Gossip’. Kind of childish isn’t it?
When I think of gossip allowing such stereotypes to survive I’m reminded of middle school where gossip lead to peoples often inflated popularity or stomped on reputation. Now gossip isn’t the only factor in such stereotypes, it’s worse when a given race feels that he or she has to succumb to the stereotype and start acting that way. Whether that being a African Male wearing the baggy jeans and throwback , to fit in with the crowd he hangs out with. Or the simple laugh made from a joke about the Jewish “Q: Why do Jewish people have big noses? A: Because the Air is free.” Jokes made like that allow for spreading of stereotypes. As jokes are a form of gossip. The first step is identifying the problem, now its your turn. The question is what is a reasonable solution to solve this problem?
A reasonable solution to solve the problem ? I see only one : education. It's because of ignorance that most stereotypes exist. For example, most people ignore that it is for historical reasons the Jews have been unwillingly associated with money, then greed : in the Middle Age, they were the only ones allowed to trade money (the Catholic Church had prohibited that trade for all Christians).
Being French, I'm presently at the receiving end of all sort of insults (mainly in the USA, the rest of the world having a much less negative opinion of the French), and those insults are based on misconceptions, and historical ignorance (and chauvinism).
But there is a problem. Those who spread these stereotypes don't know they are ignorant, or don't admit it. They are generally more interested in insulting the "other" than learning about him. It's easier. It makes them feel good, superior. One day I had a discussion with a french-basher, and told him (politely) that if he just made some research, he would find plenty of sources explaining the origin of the stereotypes about the French, and how they were wrong, and that he would find in France's history plenty of reasons to criticize, without having to distort. His answer ? "No, I prefer fuckfrance".
Stereotypes are really cheap and easy to use. Look at Carlos Mancia on Comedy central, or David Chapelle. They constantly use stereotypes in their humor. It's really because they are not very creative and not that funny that they have to use stereotypes to get a laugh. A truly talanted person could get an audiences attention by focusing on the non-race/religion/sexuality/etc. stereotypes. By not perpetuating stereotypes when you don't need to, then it will eventually eliminate the whole problem.
I totally hate stereotypes,they drive me crazy.When people ask me where I'm from and I tell them I'm mexican they do not believe me because of my white skin and green eyes,i have told them that mexico as well as any country has diversity. It makes it all worse when they go "oh,so you speak mexican?"It's ridiculous.So yes one thing to stop it could be :education and the other thing is to stop movies in portraying stereotypes very strongly, I heard that white latinas had to dye their hair black to play a "latina part".
Stereo types are annoying, but I face them every day. I'm paraplegic. I've gotten so used to them unless someone uses/implies a blantant stereotype against me I often don't notice. I just try to live life best I can.