As we begin to look at stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination, I would like you to comment on an instance in your life that you have been either the agent or the victim of stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination. For homework tonight, choose one of the two stories found here. (the first story begins with "From the moment my comrades in the military discovered I was an Indian...")(the second story begins with "Who am I?
For Asian-American students, the answer is a diligent, hardworking...") Read the story and internalize it. Then, using your secret name, post a comment to this blog. In the comment:-take a paragraph or two to relate to the short story you read.
-Tell your classmates about a time you were either the victim or the person using stereotypes, prejudice, or discrimination of any kind.
-Don't be afraid to read a few other comments and speak directly to your blogmates about how you react to their comments.
-This homework is DUE WHEN YOU WALK INTO YOUR CLASS PERIOD. No late posts will be accepted.
50 comments:
The short story about the Indian Marine Corps soldier is a great example of how impressionable those who are sterotyped could be. Because the soldier's military brothers had expectations of him in a warrior way, he started adapting to that type of personality and lifestyle. Since he was told how he was suppossed to be, he automatically internalized those thoughts and started becoming them even though that's not who he really was. I believe there is a fine line between embracing your culture, ethnicity, race, religion, etc and being somebody you are not because of it. For example, I am Jewish but I do not practice many of the traditions. If somebody told me I should start celebrating Shabbot and going to temple solely because I was Jewish, I would not do so. However, the Indian soldier was told what he should do because he was Indian and he did it, and I do not think that is right. Embracing your sterotype could lead to a better life but too many times does it cause you to destroy the person that you were.
I have only been stereotyped based on my gender. Even though society has come a long way with females being on the same level as males, they are still looked down upon when it comes to strength and ability. I constantly am told to "have a guy do it for you" or "oh, you're a girl you can't do that". It is so frustrating and I feel obligated to prove those people wrong on every level. Because of the career choice I am entering, I know I will constantly be faced with that opposition, but I will never give up in proving that I am just as capable as males. The discrimination that I, and many other females, receive will not bring me down.
The "Who am I" article appealed to me the most. It shows that stereotypes can be a positive and negative thing. At first, the asian student took the comment for the better. He made sure he stayed again of the game, kept his grades up, and was heading to jr. high school at the top of the class. The negative part of it was the student took the comment to his head and went too far. He started thinking he was smart, but he started thinking he was the smartest and his ethnicity was the superior. He only hung with his race and felt that any other ethnicity was not as smart and beneath him. When people are stereotyped you should take the positive and prove the negative wrong.
I have been stereotyped quite a bit in my life and I'm only 18. Times in particular, were in the early years of high school, well actually all my years of high school until my junior year. People always assumed that i was a class clown and was not going to do anything but joke around and play sports. It would be times in class where I would answer a question in class, and people would be all surprised and think I got the answers from other people and stuff, and it was just frustrating. but around jr. year, i moved, and the people who i met realized i was not just an athlete. They saw i was intelligent. when it comes down to it, you we all should prove the stereotypes wrong.
I really enjoyed reading the "Who am I" article because it explains to me how people label each other due to their culture whether it's right or wrong. For instance, the asian student in the article felt good about himself during his earlier years because he achieved the good grades that were expected upon him by his teachers and his classmates because he was asian. Then, when he went on to high school he realized he needed to start hanging out with other cultures. This was because the student realized that there are other culture's that are just as equally smart as asian's. Therefore, he realized he was wrong to begin with and decided to become more open-minded.
I've never been an agent or a victim of prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination. This is because I have friends of all different cultures and I have never thought of anyone differently because of their skin color or religion. Sometimes I wish the world would think how I thought of people which is treating people equally no matter what background they come from. I'm a very sensitive person and I hate to see when people are victimized due to their race or religion.
I read 'Who am I' and it actually relates to an article I read called 'Tiger Mom' which is about an Asian mother who didn't let her kids hang out with friend or go out on the weekends. The kids are only allowed to play piano or violin and they have to be amazing at it. The mother believes that her children have to fit the stereotype of being "good at everything." In the 'Who am I' article, the boy talked about how he felt the pressure to keep the stereotype going so he wouldn't ruin anyones view on him. He finally realized that all other races are smart and not just his own and I agree with him. I know Asains who aren't as smart as me, and I know Asains who are smarter than me. I know blacks and whites who are both smarter and not as smart as me also.
I have never been the type to be stereotypical. Just because I hang out with a certain group of people doesn't mean that I am only open to people like them. I'm nice to everyone, and I feel like most people would agree with that. I never judge a person before I get to know them and if I see someone who needs help I'll give it to them. Yes, I have seen stereotypical behavior at school, but I have never found myself in the middle of it.
One day my Sophomore year when I was at lunch, a an Asian kid people would consider "weird" was walking to his lunch table. He tripped over someone's bag and his tray of cafeteria food fell everywhere. A lot of kids around me started pointing and laughing while I got up and helped him clean it up. Ever since then, me and the kid always smile to each other in the hall.
I think that the "Who am I?" article is a good example of the dangers of stereotyping, even if it is positive. As it was stated earlier, this person did well by keeping their grades up and fulfilling positive expectations that came with their race. However, the speaker's embrace of their stereotype lead them to become eliteist, and discriminate against others. Eventually when they reached High School they had a rough awakening to the fact that it was not only asian people who are smart. If stereotyping was to be eliminated at its most seminal source, ie the teacher, the student may never have discriminated against others only to realize the truth later.
I can relate to that because all of my life I have always been told that I am smart, athletic, and outgoing and it reached a point where I actually thought I was better than everyone else, and was rude to people I believed to be inferior. It also lead me to a harsh realization that in reality, there are alot of people out there who are better than I am at sports, school, and a lot of other things.
From my own personal life and from the story, I can safely conclude that positive stereotypes are just as dangerous as negative ones. Because, as exmplified by the first story, people do feel a sense to fulfil the expectations that stereotypes set for them. That can be potentially dangerous, as we saw in both stories where it lead to negative consequences.
I read the "Who Am I" story and I really enjoyed it. It showed me that anyone can be an academic overachiever no matter what race you are and that just because of the way you look or dress doesn't make you any less of a person. Just like the Asian boy said in the story, that people labeled him as being smart because he was asian, people still do that today. I know many people today at our school who say things like " how don't you know everything, you're asian!" or "i'm not listening to you, you don't know anything." After reading this story, I feel that people of any race should be able to hang out with one another and not be called names or be made fun of or labeled. There are many misleading stereotypes today and I feel that you shouldn't judge or label anyone as individuals just because they have a different characteristic that sets them apart from someone else. You should get to know everyone before you make assumptions.
I have never been a victim or a person using stereotypes because I don't judge or label someone just by the way they look or the way they are supposed to be, i get to know them first. Also, because I am friends with everyone and a skin color or religion doesn't make a difference to me. I am very open minded about everything and I think that if people were to stop judging and labeling and just see that people have a lot of the same qualities, there would be a lot less misleading stereotypes, or just stereotypes in general.
I like the "who am I?" article. It talks about how stereotypes can drive and motivate students, but it also shows how stereotypes can be a bad thing. The article also talks about how when people learn labels at a young age they can transform into into more visible acts of racism, and i completely agree with that.
In my life, I have been stereotyped by my age and my race. Because I am a young black male, some people expect me to listen to loud rap music, and sag my pants and not take my education seriously.
The Indian Marine Corp story is a good example of how some stereotypes are seen as not a big deal. The main character is stereotyped but not in a insulting way. The Indian guy doesn't seem too insulted about the stereotyping but it is understandable that he noticed it and is bothered by it. If the main character is bothered by it he should say something but, it's not like the other marines are insulting him. This doesn't mean it is ok however, his fellow marines should not encourage stereotyping or any profiling.
I have been stereotyped by my looks and other information. It hasn't been anything serious but minor things. I feel think too far into a name. Just because some ones name is tied to religion doesn't mean that's what that person is all about.
I read the “Who am I” story and truly found it to be very interesting. Students are labeled all the time and are constantly discriminated against. As for the Asian American in the story, he is a perfect example of what goes on in so many schools today. He was discriminated against and always told he was supposed to do so well because he is Asian. He felt the pressure to succeed at a young age and it put a lot of unneeded stress on him. Some people can use this stereotype to there advantage. If an Asian Student enjoys being called smart, even though the people saying it don’t even know him, then he may like this stereotype. All in all, I believe students shouldn’t automatically assume another students intelligence just by their race and ethnicity.
This story relates to my greatly. I have been the victim of discrimination, as well as being the person doing it. When I was younger, I used to always pick on my best friend. I would tell him he should be so much smarter and go to an amazing college, just because his parents were famous doctors from India. I’d say if he doesn’t get into Harvard like his parents did, then he’d be a failure. I regret doing this but now I realize how wrong I truly was. I was a victim of discrimination at a basketball tryout of mine. I was not given the same opportunity as everyone else because my height. Since I was shorter, the coaches put me on the bench, and I never even got to show them my talent. This led to me being cut and eventually ended my basketball career.
The "Who Am I" article is an accurate depiction of how modern day stereotypes get in the way of seeing who a person really is, or what they can do. I agree with 78onelove. I read that same story about Tiger Mom. I believe that the labels we learn as children do carry on into our adult lives. They effect who we befriend and how we treat others. I do agree that we can do better in our generation to stop with the false labels.
I personally have been stereotyped against not only because of my race, but because of my sex and religion as well. I have been told that because I am a girl, I cannot do certain things. I have been told that I can be nothing more than a stay at home mom or wife. The stereotypes made against me for my religion have all been good. Because I am Christian, people believe that I follow every rule in the Bible. They believe that I would never do anything bad. Racially, I have been told that I sound educated and it is only because I go to Orange. Almost saying that if I did not attend Orange Schools, I would come off ignorant and uneducated. Both positive and negative stereotypes have had an effect on the way people view me, and categorize me in a first glance. I would be lying if I said I've never stereotyped, because to some extent..I think we all have.
I decided to read From the moment and found it extremely interesting because it wasn't the typical story that one hears about stereotypes. Usually they are bad stories that talk about how labeling people with certain characteristics based on their race, religion, culture, appearance, or whatever it may be, is harmful and just plain cruel. However, this story took on another meaning. This story gave a validity to stereotyping. Without the name calling and the brotherly feeling of acceptance yet playful poking humor, the man would never have become the warrior that he was in the war. He equated himself with the characteristics of an Indian chief and realized that his family and his history can help him in this situation.
Although I do believe that stereotyping is wrong, i don't think that that is the only negative within the story. I think that the man is a conformist. He conformed to society. It is one thing to let people stereotype you and to sit back and watch it happen. It's another thing to make those comments into a reality. I find that we are all our own people and that in no circumstance should we become what others negatively expect of us. Just because you are black should you speak a certain way? We now have African American Vernacular English, a new accepted way of speaking, but was that really the answer? Conforming to that part of the world instead of increasing education and focusing on schools that aren't giving enough attention to that issue. I think that it all comes down to the people. You have 3 main people within any story. Those who stereotype. Those who are stereotyped and those who watch it happen from the sideline. Each person plays an extremely prominent role in the situation and can either stand by and not do anything, or intervene. Even though this story does illustrate the positives of stereotyping, i do not think that it is any proof that it is okay to make snap decisions like those of the soldiers in the story.
I particularly liked the first story about the Native American soldier. I felt that the author focused too much on the positive experiences he had with stereotyping. Yes, he felt empowered to act a certain way--as a "chief"--but he needed to be labeled by others in order to be great? That seems self-damaging to me. I believe that he could have felt just as powerful without needing the other soldiers to stereotype him. There really aren't any positive reasons to stereotype because for every incidence that stereotypes someone in a good light, there are many more which harm their image.
A racist person may stereotype me a certain way because I dont appear to be a minority, but that doesn't mean it is true or that I would like to be given an advantage because of one bigot's opinion of me. So, even a "positive" stereotype is never neccessary or appropriate.
I read "Who am I?" and instantly connected the statements that the girl said to the media's portrayal of Asians and Asian-Americans. They are expected to be the smartest and I have even seen large groups of teens made up entirely of Asians. When a white kid gets a 70% on a test, he immediately feels like he did poorly, but once he sees that the Korean kid next to him got a 70% as well, he will conclude that it was a hard test or that the Korean kid is an exception to the "rule" that Asians are smarter. I would think that the white kid would assume the second, especially if the white kid isn't an "A" student.
To connect to Jeanne's story, I have been discriminated against due to my religion before, too. I was a member of a team, and was one of only two Jews on it. My teammates would torment me and throw money at me on busrides to games. I would always hear the common stereotypes and Jew-jokes. It got to the point where I wanted to quit the team, but i persevered. The following season, I rose above it and spoke out and gained the respect from my teammates. From that point on, the kids who formerly tormented me were defending me when someone would try to make fun of me. I find that the people who discriminate and stereotype are the ones who are full of jealousy and are uneasy about their living situations. The ones who are uneasy have bad home lives and were raised poorly by their parents, but need to be taught about respect toward their peers by their peers.
I read the Who am I? section. I found it very interesting, however a lot of it I thought was common knowledge or very well known stereotypes. Like many others, I do agree with the preconceived notion that Asians are smarter. However, I do also believe that anybody else of any other race can be just as smart and any Asian could be less smart.
My parents have always pushed the importance of grades and through elementary and middle school I believed that I was just as smart as anyone else. What I did not ever consider though at such a young age, was that perhaps I pushed myself to be the best at these limiting topics, but when we entered high school, the extent of difficulty expanded way beyond that. I no longer could try my hardest and achieve the best, however due to the reputation I had built up through all those years of being “smart”, a lot of people still kept that with me even though I don’t feel all that smart. I know that I still try and achieve great things, but I also know that there are a lot of people who are a whole lot smarter, and I feel kind of bad when I am associated as “smart” because I feel like I’m just a hard worker who gets lucky. I also believe that a lot of those people who call me smart, they could achieve just as high as grades as me if they just try.
The "Who Am I?" article was the one between the two that I identified with the most. I found that the stereotype of "Asians are smart." is one that is always very assumed and I never really thought of the pressure of how it would feel to believe that you HAD to leave up to this stereotype. I feel that with a lot of different stereotypes, whether 'positive' or negative, many of the people who fall into the category of the stereotype that they are listed under are expected to 'live up to' that stereotype and that's not right. I don't think that anyone should or can be expected to live up to any goal or characteristic that another human being places on them just by first glance or opinion of what that person should be. I don't think that all individuals in any one race or ethnicity of people can have a set label placed on them simply because they're classified as belonging to that race. I think that it is horrible that so many individuals are expected to only interact with individuals and groups from same race or ethnic background.
I can personally identify with this article because of the stereotypes that have been put on the race that I am classified as. There have been many times where I have been expected to act, dress, and think a certain way and I don't think that any expectations should be made of me unless I set those expectations myself. I frequently get comments that I "talk" and "dress" like a different race but I don't think that it's even possible to say that someone can talk or dress like an entire race of people because all individuals in one race are NOT THE SAME and can't be classified with the same characteristics. If I talk, dress, or act a certain way it's because I choose to be my own individual and that is how I choose to present myself to the world not because I want to 'live up to' nor escape stereotypes and prejudgements placed on me.
I read the "Who are I?" article and I found it very interesting. The Asian stereotype of being smart and good at math is always assumed, even if you want to believe that you don't think that way. Everyone does and this article gives a different side to the stereotype. It shows how the Asian feels he has to carry the weight of all his Asian community on his back for anything using your brain. I never really thought of it in this way and opens a new light to the stereotype. The article also touches on the fact how if one hears a stereotype too much they begin to believe it themselves. The Asian student in the story actually believed he was smarter than all non Asians and was sadly mistaken when he got to a harder school. This is a problem with labeling entire races and needs to be stopped.
The way that I can relate to this article is that I am continually harassed about being Jewish. I am not going to name anyone in particular but the stereotype of being rich and tipping poorly is always carried with me even though I try by best to not. I'm not saying that being rich is bad or anything like that. Just how everyone assumes that if you're Jewish then you are or will be rich. I believe this stereotype is a problem at many high schools but ours in particular.
Well i read the one story about the Indian Guy and how he was stereotyped which doesn't surprise me at all because we always get nicknames and stuff from our race or appearance, we call people of fat people tubby, and if he gets called tanto i guess thats just a way of referring to him quickly and its not offensive, but also not totally acceptable i guess
Also relating to the story is the way i look has always proven to be a hinderment, and thought its typical to say, usually the airport is the worst place, i've been harrased by not only TSA but also other passengers, which is kinda funny because im usually not one to lay down and let things just go over my head, and usually end up getting in a lot of confrinations. But i guess racism is something i havn't gotten too much of, just because i've accepted it as a fact and my heritage is something im proud of so nothing people can tell me can change that
I thought the article "Who am I" was very interesting because it not only showed the effect of negative stereotypes, but also the effect of the positive ones. First, the boy felt pressured to excel in school because he was "supposed to be smart". He felt the need to do well on all test because he did not want to be the one to disprove the common stereotype. Secondly, the stereotype caused him to think he was better that everyone else. Because he did well in school and because he was seen as smarter, he believed himself to be above other students.
Also, I think students hang with races of their "own kind" because they share something in common. I personally don't think that hanging out with people of your own race is stereotypical, but its more of a level of comfort. People usually tend to relate to other individuals who have commonalities with them.
Out of the two short stories I believe that "Who Am I" is most relatable in my life. Stereotypes are always present. Though it took me a while to learn that even the so called positive ones, such as being smart due to being Asian, can be just as offensive as a negative stereotype. I think that the world finds it much easier to group people rather than learn something about each individual they encounter. However if everyone took the time I'm sure they would notice that the personality differences vary from person to person regardless of race or appearance.
This story really related to my life because I have been a victim to a so called "positive" stereotype. Although I have gained skill in my sports from A LOT of hard work and practice, it has been assumed that I was born with natural talent simply because of the color of my skin. I never once found this stereotype as a compliment. I quickly found it ignorant and hurtful that my hard work put in was being undermined because of my appearance.
I have also used stereotypes when first meeting people although recently I have really gotten away from passing such early judgements. I have used both "positive" and "negative" stereotypes but I refuse to go by anything now besides conversation and actions of the individual to describe their personaility.
I read the article "Who Am I" and I think that if not all then definitely most students can relate to it. Not necessarily relate as an Asian facing that stereotypical assumption, but being someone who just simply makes that assumption. It's something that is inevitable. You see the color of someone's skin and you automatically assume that because of how someone looks, they act just like the stereotype that society has placed on them. Personally, I can't think of any moment where I was a victim of a stereotype. However, I do admit to often making jokes to friends about someone that is based strictly off of a stereo type. Even though I know it's wrong, and there is a very strong possibility that I could be hurting someone's feelings, I do it anyway. I guess I just figure that as long as they don't hear me saying it then they can't be offended.
I decided to read the "Who am I" article and I feel that it basically defines the modern generation of thinking. Most kids, as well as parents, these days will view various types, cultures, races, religions, or just groups of people in an extremely stereotypical manner. I will be the first to admit that I have fallen victim to believing the stereotype of Asians being smarter than everyone else. Now logically I know that they aren't smarter "because they are Asian". The reason why they are perceived as a smarter group of people is due to the continued academic success they have due to hard work and accomplishment. There are plenty of examples of stereotypes that are created unfairly and have a cruel demeaning effect. For example, the stereotype that ALL Irish people are drunks, that ALL white people are racist, that ALL hispanics are poor, or that ALL black people break the law. These are all examples of unfairly created stereotypes when all of those groups are equal and all intermingle in characteristics as well as lifestyle. Stereotypes such as this one pertaining to the Asian is not a bad one, yes it's still a stereotype, but having a stereotype that you are considered smarter doesn't seem so bad to me. Maybe that's just me.
I can't recall a time that I have fallen victim to stereotypes, prejudice, or discrimination. Now I truthfully have been on the crueler side of stereotyping as well as having a prejudice conscience. Now I personally don't think that anyone will be able to truthfully say that they haven't EVER looked at another person in a stereotypical manner, and or had prejudiced thoughts about another race, but again maybe that's just my opinion. Even if I haven't meant to do it on purpose, I can truthfully say that without even knowing i'm doing it stereotypical thoughts creep into my head when people say certain things. I don't want to offend any specific people in my class, or any specific group of people so stating a specific example would be a dumb decision, but overall I feel that everyone, at one point or another, has had stereotypical and discriminating thoughts run through their minds.
The story I chose to discuss was about a native american gentleman serving in the Vietnam war. Being identified as an Indian, brought about many racial jokes and slurs. At first he was not comfortable with them however, after discovering how these jokes broke up the tenseness of combat, he began to listen and adhere to them. He strived to become the excellent Indian worrier he was expected to be.
I can relate to this for a number of reasons. When working on film and television projects, in some circumstances, I find myself being the only black person. Because of this I get the sly remark "hear comes Spike Lee" ect... In a way I guess it's a complement but it still just kinda sucks that I get linked up with that director just because we share a common race.
hell, why can't i be Fellini :P
The story I chose to read was the first regarding the Indian man in the military. I found this story particularly interesting because he describes his past experience with prejudice individuals and discrimination as a positive one. What others called him boosted his self-esteem and made him all around a greater fighter. This response to being typically stereotyped I feel is not a typical manor that commonly occurs in a situations like these. I suppose it opened my eyes into the positive outcomes of stereotyping and discrimination, but unfortunately I still believe being prejudice and enacting in discrimination will ultimately have a negative effect. Coming from my personal life experiences, I myself have never dealt with being discriminated against but have definitely witnessed it. My old boss at my previous job was new to the business at the time and treated several of my co-workers poorly. Three of the stores employees consisted of African-American workers who were just as good at the job as anyone else. My boss very subtly but apparently spoke to them with somewhat of a degrading tone, and was never nearly as friendly to them as he were to me. Even though he never spat at them any racial slurs you could tell what his true feelings were, and it wasn't blind to the employees either.
I read the article "Who Am I," and I really enjoyed it. It got me thinking that there truly are so many sterotypes, some that are overlooked. I hear people saying that asians are all so smart, but that shouldn't factor in to what people think about an asian. Any race, or culture that you are you can be intelligent. I know many asians that are smart, but i know many white and black people that are just as brilliant.
I have never been in a situation of sterotypes or discriminatation because I don't really believe in it. I am friends with many different types of people, and discrimination of any kind has never been a problem for me, because I don't discriminate nor stand for someone acting a different way towards me.
I think that I can relate most to the military story. In high school, often people assimilate themselves with a label or a group of friends, just like Joseph started to believe he was a Chief. He no longer was following his own definition of identity, but letting how others viewed him define who he was.
In my life I see people who are hurt by this and others who use it to their advantage. Those who are pretend to be something they are not and never get to be their true selves. In the college process, students use their race to get ahead. Although it is not entirely their fault because the colleges should not discriminate, I do believe that this is a form of racism. Just as Joseph was viewed as a strong leader because of his race, many students are seen as "in need" just because they are minorities. But doesn't this give minorities an unfair advantage?
"From the moment my comrades in the military discovered I was an Indian..." explains how people can be motivated to behave differently so that they can fit a stereotype. In the Native American’s case he felt he had to adapt to the preconceived notions that his comrades had based on his ethnicity. Though he was “ anything but combatant” he felt motivated to “find trouble” in order to live up to his fellow soldiers expectations. This caused him to steer away from his true personality.
This short story resonated with me because I find myself behaving based on the stereotype that comes with my gender. Though I consider myself to be independent and strong willed, in some situations I’ve caught myself acting dainty or weak because some (mostly men or people of older generations) expect that of me. I hate it when men think they are stronger or smarter for whatever reason. On the other hand I appreciate heavy boxes being lifted for me, a car door opened for me, and my car fixed for me, though I can perform these tasks just fine on my own. Experiences with stereotyping has motivated me to sometimes act like a “girl.”
I really enjoyed reading the story "Who am I." I thought it was uplifting that someone who has gone through countless years of stereotyping and pressure to live up to the idea of being "Asian" can learn from the prejudice that surrounds a person everyday. Although the boy felt the constant need to excel just because others told him thats what he is supposed to do because he was Asian, he was able to see the fault in this and notice that other people around him were also intelligent and ambitious. This story reminds me of a book that I read last year for English class called "The Joy Luck Club." It was about Chinese mothers who constantly put their children on a pedestal because of their race. The pressure that the children were under just because they were Chinese is analogous to this story. In "Who am I", the boy was able to look past this stereotype, while in the book that I read, the children succumbed to it.
I personally have not been a direct victim to prejudice or discrimination, but because I am Jewish, I feel strong emotion towards the topic. Because some of my family went through the holocaust, I am sensitive to prejudices towards Judaism. Sometimes I hear my friends use derogatory words about Jewish individuals. Although they aren't addressing me and most of the time are joking around, its hurtful. Also, In school, I hear many people use stereotypes about Asians being smart. I, too, did this. I soon realized it was a stupid assumption and wrong to do because there are so many other people with different races and cultures that are just as smart. Stereotypes are common in todays society, but hopefully one day they will be removed completely.
I read ths story about the Indian. I am surprised to see stereotypes in the military. From what I heard, most people in the military are pretty nice to each other. It is sad to see prejudice in the military. Also from what we see, it doesn't seem like people have a problem with other people. In our society, they make everything look cookie cutter nice but there are underline problems.
I have not been personally a victim of stereotypes, prejudice, or discrimination. At least not to my knowledge. My grandfather went through it though. He is a vetern from the Vietnam War. When he came back to America, he was discriminated because he was an African-American and he just came from the war. My grandfather did what he could do the help serve the country and keep the country safe but some people do not care. They thought of him as a angry, violent black person.
I think we have all done something to discriminate someone. You may not believe it but it is just something we do. We are very prejudice to people, even people in our own race.
I thought that the story about the man who was Native American was interesting because he embraced his stereotype. In my opinion, I do not think his action was admirable. I think that the man got so caught up in what he thought others should see him as, that he changed himself to be accepted and he lost his own identity. Because he was expected to be brave and strong he convinced himself to act like a warrior. Although he was trying to portray positive traits, I think the man would have been embarrassed to say to his peers, "you know what, I'm really no different than you; I'm not a warrior."
I think that the man in the story experienced a lot of pressure to live up to what others though he should be and I have experienced similar feelings in my life. I am constantly trying to live up to my parent’s expectations to achieve high academic marks, while balancing extra curricular activities and a social life. Like the man in the story I do not like to appear to be “weak” and I try to do everything I think I am capable of, but unlike the man I will not change who I am or how I act as a person to satisfy others.
I read the story about the Native American soldier. He started off resenting his "nicknames", but later learned to use them as an advantage. This man let society live his life for him, just like the bear did till he realized he actually was a bear and not some guy with a fur coat and a full beard. By doing this he became the warrior that followed the names like Geronimo and Crazy Horse.
Its hard not to just ignore the names and hurtfulness people may say, and everyone hears it at one point in their life. As a jew, I hear it all the time; "big nose, money lover ect.." but I try and just let it slide. Yes its hurtful but this world is a very f-ed up place filled with f-ed up people.
I believe that conforming to your stereotypes like the Asian boy in the story isn't something people should do. Being an individual is something that anyone should take pride in and shouldn't be just given away. Me being a black male doesn't mean I need to fall under the stereotype of dropping out of high school and not going to college. That is is a negative stereotype that I am looking to change. The Asian boy in the story felt it was his duty to only hang with the other Asians kids who worked for good grades and excelled in school.
Stereotypes are something that are usually negative and cause many problems in our world today. Other stereotypes that are negative are Jewish people being cheap, white people can't jump and all mexican people sell oranges. Stereotypes like these are a serious issue in our world because of peoples one track minds. I personally would enjoy a world with no stereotypes but in the time being I will be someone not conforming to negative stereotypes.
I chose the article "Who Am I" and thought that it was ok. I laughed at all the stereotypes because to me they are funny. I don't think that they are harmful although some are negative, but some are positive as well. It shouldn't sway your opinion about a race, ethnicity or culture just because you heard a stereotype. But I don't think that they should be entirly overlooked because they are funny and everyone should be able to take pride in your people and laugh at yourself once in a while.
Im sure I have been in a relationship that had me as a stereotype but I didn't notice because It didn't bother me.
I read the article about the guy that was in the marines and was indian and when his other fellow solders found out that he was indian the started to call him all these stereo typical names and at first I think it really bugged him and made him upset but then I think that he started to own the names because they were the names of famous indian solders and In think that part of these stereo types actually drove him to do better than every body else and then the names he was called really started to fit him and were a compliment to him now instead of being an insult to him. And I can kinda relate to him cause I have been called names that are stereo typical to my race and it didn't really affect me I just ignored it and went along with my business.
The Who am I article was most appealing to me. It depicts the various ways sterotypes can be interperated. The asain student believed in the sterotype and catagorized himself in it. He worked hard and achieved good grades. Yet, as he fell deeper into believing in the sterotype thing got bad.He started thinking to highly of himself and believed that he was better than everyone. He blinded himself from society by only hanging out with people of his race. Showing the negitivity of sterotypes.
The only time I have been sterotyed is for my religon. People are always creating new jewish sterotypes. Yet, I choose to ignore them.
I liked the story about the Native American best. It shows that stereotyping is not just insulting someone for who they are, but rather slanting your view on someone because of things they cant control. The guy who wrote the story had never embodied the stereotypes of a Native American at any point of his life before he joined the military, but suddenly he was assumed to be all of them. This goes to show how quick people are to assume things based on race.
I have been stereotyped over interests I have. I know it is not classic stereotyping, but when I am driving and I have a CD on, people's demeanor towards me suddenly changes and they begin to apply the qualities of what they percieve the music to be about on to me. I think alot of people go through this, you can be any kind of person, but if you have one oddball interest, people will completely link you exclusively to the negative connotations of that one trait forever.
The "Who am I" article sums up sterotypes and how it corresponds into forms of racism. In the article they learn at a young age and it sticks with them later in life. It resembles experiences that i've encountered in my time on Earth.
An instance where I have been a subject to racism is when other nationalities make fun of my Italian descent. I took offense to it at first, but not so much later. I developed a tough skin because I realized that I was proud of my descent and it wasn't going to change.
Racism: man's gravest threat to man - the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason. Stereotypes: labels that society uses to classify and group people.
"Here I stand before you - brown. Color of the mountains. Colossal as the earth. Wrapped so deliciously within my own joy and misery. Feathers of my wings paralyzed by the distance of my mind. Here I stand before you, the color of the night. Frozen by the potential of me." I would say the author of this quote but you would read it differently. That is prejudice. Unconscious but just as effective and intended prejudice.
I can relate to the 'Who Am I' short story because I know many situations in life are race-based. The Asian in the story went through what many children struggle with and that is accepting society's view on you. I am Black, not a Negro, not African American or any other spin off you can think of. I embrace my blackness and I am comfortable enough to intermingle with other races. I believe that you learn through expierience. Although ingorance is bliss which explains why most bigots are contempt with their ways.
People embrace their sterotypes for one of two reasons: They are either too lazy to change it or they agree with them. Being ineffective or complacent is the same as agreeing with it (just isn'ot outright). As a black person I am fully aware of the negative connotations that come with the "territory". Although I have seemingly been accepted by most of the people I encounter, it could be because of the reasons we met. For instance, if I am introduced to a parent of one if my female classmates (of a different "Race") as a friend visiting; that parent will most likely respectfully embrace me as a guest. If I was introduced as that classmates' Boyfriend, date or any more intimate or serious company the embrace would probably shift (drastically). Although not always true, it happens. It's not right, it's not fair, it's just how society moves.
Many sterotypes are true, for alot of the people in the group being described. This is why so many people accept them. Just because it applies to most doesn't mean it's should apply to you. Even if it is true, that does not justify being prejudice.
I enjoyed the story about the Native American. It showed that not all stereotypes are bad things. The guy never was around stereotyping before and all of a sudden once he joined the military he was completely stereotyped. Although he's never been around the stereotypes, he was seen as a great warrior just because of his ethnicity.
I've only been stereotyped as a joke and I never took offense to it. I've been around african americans who were talking about something and I asked what they were talking about, and they said "it's a black people thing you wouldnt understand." I dont think stereotyping is as big of a deal as it used to be, but it still goes on.
I think you must be true to yourself. If you are not.. you will not find true happiness within yourself. I have been insulted and critisized before for the way i looked but I now have thicker skin so it doesn't get to me as easily. If your comfortable with your true self... others will be comfortable with you!
I thought the Native American story is an example of somewhat harmless stereotyping. The person in the story did not seem very offended at being called "Chief" and other names along the same lines. It helped him in a way, and it hurt him a little also.
Being stereotyped is a big deal, and in a lot of situations, if not most it is offensive. I have never really been offended when someone has stereotyped me, but I am sure that I have stereotyped someone offensively without realizing it.
When I glanced down at the "Who Am I?" article I was interested because I have stereotyped Asians that way.
Stereotyping is never a good thing to do, even though most of us do it subconsciously in our every day lives. Everyone wants to act like the noble person who doesn't judge or categorize people, but however hard they try, there is at least one instance where they do, and that is alright, it is just their opinion. They way the marines nicknamed the Indian was a name that groups of brothers day to each other, like in a locker room. It is hard to joke around and make nicknames up and have that person be offended because that nickname is a sign of inclusion. Personally, I have had nicknames, and been called things that I didnt like, but I always felt that the people who said those names to me were accepting me as a friend and a team mate.
The "Who Am I" article is a very good description of how in today's society people of a certain race is stereotyped. In this instance Asian Americans are stereotyped to be smart. They are stereotyped to be good at math and science. For instance if a class takes a hard test, the stereotyped would be that the Asian-American would get the highest score.
I am Arab-American, so because of that I have experienced discrimination. For instance at the airport, I am treated differently. One time I had to wait over 30 minutes just to get to security. Also I have been searched "randomly" at times as well. Furthermore at times my bags were searched at baggage claims as well.
I liked the story about the Indian the best. I thought it was really interesting that he completely changed who he was as a person just because of the stereotypes the people around him applied to him. I don't necessarily think that it is a bad thing that he changed, as long as he was happy.Even though the nicknames and stereotypes didn't hurt him, it wasn't right of his fellow marines to group all of the Indians into the same category and assume that they all had the same characteristics. While I, and most people in society, know that we should not stereotype, it is still something that we do almost every time we meet someone new.
in my opinion the story with the asian speaker was accurate. not only do i hear other people classifying their peers by who they are, what they look like, and who they hang out with, but i'm guilty of doing it too. I dont however feel the need to only interact with people of the same race as me. at this school most people won't really care which race you hang out with. it's part of our everyday lives. we go to school with eachother, we eat together, and we talk to eachother. i have however been stereo typed by my religion and my sex. i've had anti semetic expeirences not in, but outside of school. on a daily basis i am being looked down upon by the men of this society who still believe women are inferior. studies show that even today where everyone is supposed to be "equal" women still get paid less than a man would of the level and position. after some of my peers comments i would have to say that i also agree with 9superman. he says that stereo types don't always have to be taken in a negative way. i also believe that you can grow from your experiences and not take the things people say about you that seriously. they aren't who define you, you are.
The "Who am I?" story was a great example of how people stereotype today. People believed the Asian-American student to be smarter than white, black, or hispanic students simply because it is stereotypical of Asians to be extremely smart. At first, this false stereotype motivated the student to rise above others acedemically, as well as to hang out solely with other Asians. He continued to do this up until high school only to realize that there are so many smart people in the world, all coming from different races, cultures, and backrounds. Rather than learning about other cultures and expanding his circle of friends, the Asian-American student was closing himself off to the rest of the world because he believed in a stereotype about himself.
There aren't that many instances where I've been stereotyped. One time that I can think of is when I went on a vacation and met someone who had not met a lot of jews. When he found out I was jewish, the first thing he said was "You're jewish? You don't look Jewish...and I couldn't tell by your last name." Because of the common stereotypes about jews today, I knew isntantly that he meant I don't have a gigantic nose and that my last name isn't completely "jewish sounding."
The story "Who Am I" brings up a good point. The boxes he talks about show how our society classifies others by appearance. I personally was never seriously bullied by a person that used stereotypes. I have only been fooled with by my friends for looking Italian.
My family has an mostly Italian background. So I have been called a guetto, grease monkey, and a wap. These instances where not serious but if they where I would have been pretty angry. Its not right for people to make fun or even hate somebody because of where they are from. We are all human and should be treated the way we treat others.
I strongly agree with the view points of the narrator in the story "Who Am I?" Stereotypes can greatly affect the way people view themselves and how others view them in society. We should not let stereotypes define our actions or give us reason to perform in a distinct manner. We, ourselves, should be responsible for the way we behave on an everyday basis and only judged by our words and actions. Unfortunately, this is not how our society works. We habitually generalize people and use these opinions to define a person. I too am guilty of stereotyping people. I have allowed the ethnicity of someone who is asian to affect the way I have felt about myself. I felt less superior and less intelligent due to the stereotype that asians are smarter. This has caused my to be participate in class less and not perform on the level I was capable of.
In addition, I have at some point in my life segregated myself from the rest of my peers based on race. I have subconsciously separated myself when I have sat down in class with people of the same race as me.
I read the "who am I?" short story. In this story it talks about an Asian kid who believes he has to live up to these expectations because he is Asian. People stereotype the Asian culture all the time. When you're an Asian you are portrayed to be a smart kid, or good at math. Personally, I haven't really been stereotyped by any of my peers or classmates, but in this story the Asian kid believes he has to be the smartest kid in his class, and starts to only hangout with other Asian kids.
I believe that stereotyping goes on everyday at our school. I think I stereotype other races sometimes, like thinking that Asians are generally smarter than whites. If I didn't do well on something, and an Asian in my class didn't do as well either I would have just thought the assignment was difficult.
The story, "Who Am I" caught my attention because it is easy to relate to in highschool. The Asian was classified as being smart and studious, so the Asian lived up to the stereotype. The Asian listened to his surroundings by following the stereotype, only to find that there are numerous smart people all around the world. By the actions that he took throughout school, only hanging out with those along with his race, forced him to be in a box. Once he stepped up to highschool, on a higher level and broke out of his box, he found his true self and how he had just been living in a stereotyped lifestyle.
I am a white Catholic and I have found myself in places of a stereotype. While at work, a common customar asked me where I went to school, in response I replied Orange. His immediate response to that was saying that I do not know how to work for anything and I'm very wealthy. I am the exact opposite. Although many students that go to Orange with me are wealthy, I am in a middle class situation and I have to work for what I have. I was insulted by the stereotype, but I love to prove people wrong by being out of the stereotype. Stereotypes don't mean anything but a judgement of how the outer world views different races. It doesn't depict or influence how I live my life and stereotypes should not influence anyones life who undergoes stereotypes.
Two years ago i had a friend that i grow up with that lived and stow and me and my brother went to see him for the weekend.
My mom and his mom was really close,his family was white and they lived in Stow.On sunday night me and my brother was going home.As we was heading home there was a police man following us. HYe finally stop us, he ask us to step out the car and ask ous what we doing on this side of town.We told him that are close friend lived in Stow.He told ous to get into the car.Just before he put us on the wall to check ous, Ms.davis Bred mom.She told him the same story he we told him but this time he believe the story.
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