Stereotypes are a set of preconceived notions usually about a type of race or culture. Stereotypes are annoying. Stereotypes are extremely judgmental. Stereotypes... are often true. Now hear me out. How do stereotypes usually begin? When a particular pattern is observed based off of personal experiences. I went to a predominantly Hispanic high school where they would constantly point out and confirm their own stereotypes. Such as being obsessed with coffee and operating on "cuban time." That is not to say that all Hispanics are the same, but that was the common trend. It is only human nature to find connections to what we've already encountered when faced with a new situation. The problem is not that stereotypes exist. The problem is that people seemingly aren't capable of acknowledging the possibility of a person deviating from said stereotype. For example, a boy threw my textbooks in the garbage because he could not understand how I was black and did not like watermelon. Arguably, that kid was just a jerk too, but the premise still stands.
Stereotypes are okay. They are about as bad as first impressions. They ARE first impressions. Sizing someone up and coming to a conclusion about them is only bad when you allow that to be your only conclusion. When we refuse to delve deeper and cast judgment based off of appearance alone, only then does it becomes harmful. That is when it becomes prejudice. That is when it becomes racist. We can't help the way we think, we can only help how we act and hope those actions result in a change to our thoughts.
But all that being said, stereotypes do need to become more flexible. A lot of them are in danger of being, if not already, a little outdated. Yes, believe it or not, the common trend for black people was to be uneducated. Generations upon generations of systematic oppression will do that to a race. Needless to say, a lot of a educated black people exist. But how many educated black people does a person have to meet before those black people stop being classified as "white people in the wrong body" and are simply classified as educated? Do you see where stereotypes can become outdated? There are a lot of people out there that would have others believe that being black and educated is only for a special hybrid of people that are secretly white or some other garbage conspiracy. The majority of Hispanics I have encountered/befriended are often bilingual. If not two languages, then believe it or not, they usually only speak English. So understandably, the idea that most people are still shocked when my friends speak fluent English is a bit absurd. It's not the fact that people ask, because there are always exceptions. It's the fact that they are so disbelieving of the contrary.
So the moral of this story is that it's okay for you take a look at me in all my scarf wearing glory and think "God, she's a snobby douche-waddle." But until you take the time to actually talk to me and unravel what may lie beyond that, I won't lose any sleep. The thing about stereotypes is that they are like Pandora. If you like one song, you have a tendency to like certain other songs. Same with people. If I wear scarves, there's a good chance I am a snob and enjoy the Fine Arts. But just as Pandora thinks it has you all figured out after liking a few songs, we still end up disliking some that seemingly follow a certain pattern. So I might be both, maybe only one, or none at all. But shouldn't we take the time to find out each other for ourselves instead of a preset grapevine?
