Wednesday, November 19, 2003
stereotyping
what is it with people? why the heck do we stereotype? i am asking because i have recently been hit hard with a realization that i stereotyped someone (and boy, was i wrong or what!).
basically, i was talking to an co-worker who i see as very shy, soft-spoken (which is a given, because she really is), and modest (by modest i don't mean the opposite of proud- i mean the opposite of flashy). we were both working overtime one night and, of course, as is, we got to talking about some personal things. and i was so surprised at what she told me (well at just one thing), and because i was shocked, only then did it occur to me that i stereotyped her (well, i'm not gonna look at her the same way again- don't get me wrong, it's actually not a bad thing.)
what's funny is that, after this, i'll do it again. and it applies to everyone. once in a while, our 'stereotypes' get shattered. but we'll do it again, not with the shmo who shattered it, but likely with somebody else. why the heck don't we change? is it human nature? or have we just stereotyped ourselves into thinking so?
what is it with people? why the heck do we stereotype? i am asking because i have recently been hit hard with a realization that i stereotyped someone (and boy, was i wrong or what!).
basically, i was talking to an co-worker who i see as very shy, soft-spoken (which is a given, because she really is), and modest (by modest i don't mean the opposite of proud- i mean the opposite of flashy). we were both working overtime one night and, of course, as is, we got to talking about some personal things. and i was so surprised at what she told me (well at just one thing), and because i was shocked, only then did it occur to me that i stereotyped her (well, i'm not gonna look at her the same way again- don't get me wrong, it's actually not a bad thing.)
what's funny is that, after this, i'll do it again. and it applies to everyone. once in a while, our 'stereotypes' get shattered. but we'll do it again, not with the shmo who shattered it, but likely with somebody else. why the heck don't we change? is it human nature? or have we just stereotyped ourselves into thinking so?
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