Political correctness aside, there are many colorful (no pun intended) assumptions about people in relation to their racial backgrounds. Stereotypes can be found for every race and ethnicity. In fact, aside from any racist or prejudicial purposes (for which they are often associated with); stereotypes commonly are simple truths usually relating to a few folks that are generalized and applied (often incorrectly) to a whole category of people. While racial stereotyping has at times proved to be hurtful and oppressive, taken in a lighter vein, they have also proved to be the source for a good deal of parody and humor. Stereotypes can therefore range from being simple, humorous, and innocent in nature, to representing more serious, harmful, and resilient issues of concern. Let's take a look at some of the most commonly held stereotypes about various racial groups plaguing our society.
Please note: None of the following are by any means representative of my own personal opinions or beliefs. My intention is to not offend anyone, but to merely raise awareness to stereotypical beliefs present within our society.
Please note: None of the following are by any means representative of my own personal opinions or beliefs. My intention is to not offend anyone, but to merely raise awareness to stereotypical beliefs present within our society.
Asians...
There is a vast array of stereotypes that are commonly used to describe the general Asian population (which includes a great number of races, cultures, and ethnicities). These stereotypes include: all Asians are hard workers and geniuses or are good at math or piano; all Asians are bad drivers, know Kung Fu, eat dog, or have slanty eyes. Many of these stereotypes are portrayed and perpetuated in inaccurate and exaggerated media representations.
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The above video is a humorous play on the stereotype that all Asians know Kung Fu. What's interesting about this video is that it also highlights the tendency for some people to buy into the stereotypes that are placed on their race. Stereotypes are such a prominent part of our society, that often times, it can become engrained into our unconscious minds as truth.
The video to the left is another humorous play on the various stereotypes placed on Asians. It highlights the ignorance that society often has when contradictions to these stereotypes are right there in front of our eyes. People tend to retain stereotypical beliefs even after witnessing on occasion a person that demonstrates otherwise. |
Middle Easterners...
With the tragic events of 9/11, there has been a heightened sensitivity to terrorism. This has led to the unfortunate rise of stereotypes such as all Middle Easterners are terrorists and all Middle Easterners hate America. Certainly, the immense amount of media hype surrounding this topic has done more to perpetuate these stereotypes than anything else (ListPost, 2012). These are examples of stereotypes that can have serious and profound negative affects on the lives of many Middle Easterners. It is a topic that does not lend to humor easily. Anyone who knows a person of Middle Eastern decent can surely vouch for the absurdity of this generalized belief.
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White People...
Even though white people are considered the dominant or majority racial group in Western society, this very fact does not prevent the formation of racial stereotypes from being placed on them, just like any other minority racial group. Some commonly heard stereotypes attributed to white people include: white people can't dance/don't have rhythm, and all white people are racist. The former is an example of a rather innocent and fun stereotype that is often used to invoke humor. The latter however, is a more serious and profound stereotype that stems way back to the events of history. Some say that the sins of the past will haunt the present, and this is certainly true with this stereotype (Listpost, 2012). There is definitive truth in the fact that many groups of people have suffered as a result of harsh treatment at the hands of white folks. However, not all white people, for example, were slave owners or even believed in the institution of slavery (Listpost, 2012). True, there are white people who are racist, but not everyone (or even a majority of everyone) holds to those beliefs. White people are no more racist than anyone else (Listpost, 2012).
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Black People...
Stereotypes characterizing this group of people range in nature from positive to negative. On more positive side, many black people are viewed as being naturally good athletes. This can be attributed to their successes in many professional sports such as basketball, football, and track and field. Contrary to the white stereotype discussed above, Black people are also perceived to be full of rhythm and very good dancers, as depicted in many music videos and movies. Food seems to also be a hot topic for the basis of Black stereotypes as it is commonly said that Black people love fried chicken, watermelon, corn bread, and Kool Aid.
On the negative side, certain stereotypes such as Black people are lazy, illiterate, and don't want to work; Black people are loud, aggressive, and rude; and Black people are criminals and always engaging in illegal activity have really put a strain on their everyday lived experiences within our society. These stereotypes and generalizations have created many obstacles and barriers to success for these individuals; a fact that extends long into history and still remains evident today. |
Latinos/Hispanics...
Commonly held stereotypes perpetuated by the media and popular culture about Latin Americans or Hispanics include: they are all illegal immigrants, they all don't speak English, they are all lazy, latino women are overly sexual in nature, and latinos are all involved in gangs and illegal activity. These stereotypes can have significant repercussions for this group in their daily lives as many struggle to overcome the obstacles society has placed in front of them.
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Native Americans...
Out of all the racial groups, Native Americans seem to possess the greatest amount of negative stereotypical beliefs. The debilitating consequences of these stereotypes have undoubtedly has a profound impact on their culture as well as their quality of life. These stereotypes stem from a long history of struggles with the European settlers, and their longstanding disputes with government over equality, rights, and privilege. It is because of these lingering negative stereotypes, that their negative images keep getting perpetuated. It is a vicious cycle. Some commonly held stereotypes about Native Americans include: they are all lazy and ready to live off of government welfare and they all have gambling or alcohol addictions. In today's world, the negative perception of Native Americans has shown significant progression towards the better, however, these stereotypical perceptions are longstanding ideas that have been engrained society; it's been hundreds of years, and the cultural group as a whole, still hasn't fully recovered.
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