America's Obsession With Stereotyping
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

America's Obsession With Stereotyping

Sharing the perspective of a Syrian woman, and reevaluating how we form opinions of others.

28
America's Obsession With Stereotyping
Oregon State University

I work as a tutor for international students and I love my job; I find these students to be dedicated, intelligent, and fascinating. They come from diverse backgrounds and they love discussing the differences between their cultures and ours. The students are hardworking and compassionate, and they have a desire to be friends with American students. Many of these students have battled things that we only hear about in the news. These students are fighting every day here, too. They are fighting to get past a long list of stereotypes perpetuated by the spread of misinformation and on-the-spot judgements. When I look at my students, I see eagerness and kindness. They are overwhelmed with the pressure put upon them both by their governments and our government, yet they still make an effort to be friendly and polite. Sure, there are rude students, just like there are rude students all over campus. The majority of international students want to reach out to Americans, but they are nervous. They are well aware of the stereotypes that surround them, and they know that many Americans will have a negative opinion of them before they even introduce themselves. This is something I am aware of, and I think about it every time I work with them.

During my last shift, I worked with a young woman from Syria. We had a half hour long appointment, and she wanted to practice her speech in front of me. This isn't unusual; every term, we have large groups of students who come in for appointments for communications classes. However, her speech was unlike any other speech that I've heard. She agreed to email it to me so I could share it with you all:

"The war has been going on for six years, I’m saying this to show how I have experienced life while my country have a war in it. If you guys listen to me very carefully, you guys will understand what I’m feeling and what I have been going through. What I’m going through is 100 percent of what the Syrians are thinking and feeling. I’m one of the thousands of people trying to show people what we are feeling.

"Today, I would like to share my life story and how Syria is affecting me and my life. I always think about what will happen tomorrow... I’m afraid to lose everything I have. Because of Syria, we might be kicked out of Saudi Arabia — where we live now. My dad's boss got fired because he’s Syrian. If I can’t go to my country, and where I live now is kind of kicking us out, where should we go? How can we live? What might happen to us? I have a really nice family and I’m afraid to lose them. I’m the oldest, my father is trying to make me responsible for everything; that’s not bad, but it's scary. I’m afraid to lose everything I have. I started to think that I don’t have to pass any classes because I might not be able to finish school. Who knows what will happen?

"I have a sister. She’s three years old and she [has not entered] school. Imagine what her life is going to be. I used to travel to Syria three times a year, and every time, I stayed at least a month over there, but the last time was five years ago. I have an uncle; he used to live in Syria but he moved from Syria to Saudi Arabia because he lost his house. Everything he had was in the house. The most important things were his money, and his [deeds for other houses.] He lost everything; he has nothing to prove any more that the other houses [belong to him.] He came back to us saying ‘I lost everything; I have nothing,’ he was devastated. Imagine if my dad wasn’t there [to help him.]

"This is why I am afraid. I think every second something might happen to me; like, I get a phone call from my family and they tell me something bad happened. Life is not easy at all, especially when you know that you are staying here or there temporarily. The war affected my country and I’m getting hurt more and more. I know we might be kicked out of any place we go. I have a really nice family and I don’t want to lose any one of them. They’re the most important people in my life."

At her request, I have not included the student's name in order to protect her privacy.

After she delivered her speech, she described the way people treat her here in America. She said that there is a devastating war going on in her home country, and she feels like every day, she is judged for it. So many Americans find out that she is Syrian and immediately begin to label her, judge her, or even advise her on how to deal with the conflict in her own country. People make bomb jokes about her. Teachers give lectures about what is going on in Syria and she finds that they are hugely misinformed and that they are spreading negativity and misinformation to her peers. This student is going through a horrific amount of stress, and she can't even spend time with her family. She is afraid to go back home because she worries that soon the U.S. might stop allowing foreign exchange students from Syria; she is anxious every day for her family members, who are Syrian refugees.

Imagine how she feels: living in a country where many of the citizens think she is a criminal and a representative of a potential death threat. She hears political candidates on the news spreading hate speech about her people; she watches them propose to ban her people from seeking refuge here. Meanwhile, her family is in turmoil. Unfortunately, even after years living in America, she is not immune to the hateful things that are said about her and her country. She is desperately trying to make people understand that she is not the violent stereotype so many Americans perceive her as, and that Syrians are not evil. Her country is plastered all over the news, and yet no one covers stories like hers. Many people in America (and other countries, for that matter) demand that Syrians be banned, but they refuse to listen to Syrian people's perspectives.

Her story is one of the saddest examples of America's obsession with stereotypes and fear-induced hatred. She is no more dangerous than you or I, but she faces blatant judgement and discrimination here. She does not exemplify any aspect of the stereotypes surrounding Syrians. If I've learned anything from her story, it's that America needs to pipe down and start inspecting the way we label others based on popular media and what our politicians feed us.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

13908
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

944375
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

121586
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lots of people sat on the cinema wearing 3D glasses
Pinterest

Ever wonder what your friend meant when they started babbling about you taking their stapler? Or how whenever you ask your friend for a favor they respond with "As You Wish?" Are you looking for new and creative ways to insult your friends?

Well, look no further. Here is a list of 70 of the most quotable movies of all time. Here you will find answers to your questions along with a multitude of other things such as; new insults for your friends, interesting characters, fantastic story lines, and of course quotes to log into your mind for future use.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments