We all have heard multiple stereotypes in our lives. She's blonde? Oh she must be stupid. He plays football? Oh he's just a dumb meathead. She studies all the time? She probably doesn't have a life. While stereotypes seem to perpetuate our lives every day, they are some of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard in my life. Generalizing a person based on their appearance or what they do in their lives can be incredibly hurtful to that person, and makes it so that that kind of behavior is acceptable.
Growing up, I was exposed to a lot of stereotypes. Whether it was that I wasn't intelligent because of my blonde hair, or weird because I was so short, I experienced stereotypes on a daily basis, just like everyone else. When I came to college, I was under the impression that sororities were popularity contests, and fraternities were all about the parties and the drinking. I held onto these stereotypes my freshman year, and it was only until I watched my friends go through rush and have the best times of their lives that I realized just how wrong I was. I bought into the stereotypes that I'd seen in the media and that other people had told me, and because of that I believed in something that was completely false. If I came to college with an open mind, I might have joined my sorority freshman year, and had another year with the amazing girls I now call sisters.
While that example was very specific and personal, it perfectly explains the kind of damage that stereotypes can do. Not only can they hurt the people that they are about, calling people stupid for their hair color, or lazy for playing video games, but it can also hurt the person who believes in them. Would there be such an issue with differing religions among several populations if people stopped believe in the stereotypes about those religions? Would countries have better relations with one another if they stopped believing the horrible stereotypes about say American people or French people? Hitler used stereotypes to perpetuate the hatred of Jewish people, and look at how much destruction that caused.
Stereotypes can cause so much pain and hatred. To those who believe in stereotypes, I implore you to get to know each individual person before you label them according to what stereotypical group they belong to. If a stereotype is being applied to you based on the color of your skin, the color of your hair, or anything about your general appearance or personality, I urge you to ignore those stereotypes and stay true to the person that you are. You, and only you, know what kind of person you are and know how wrong those stereotypes about yourself can be. You, and only you, can stop perpetuating stereotypes that cause so much pain and hatred.
Don't believe everything you hear or see, make your own decisions before you fall into the trap of stereotypical generalizations.
