Thoughts regarding stereotypes
Every year, our Peer Education program and our Adolescent Advisory Board share an educational theme. We explore this theme from September through our annual youth conference at W&J. This year our theme is Smash the Stereotypes. Our trained young people will facilitate the conference May 7. They will address ableism, ageism, classism, heterosexism, racism, religious oppression, sexism and sizeism. This column is dedicated to their thoughts on the question: Is it important for young people to learn about stereotypes? If yes, why?
• Jaron Andrechak – We are the next leaders of the world.
• Aliyah Brooks – Children are raised differently. I feel like young people need to be educated about all the stereotypes out there so they know truth. The most damaging stereotype in American culture would have to be “how all black people are criminals.” People see black people and automatically think that they are going to steal from them, especially with black teenagers. When black teens walk into a store they usually get followed around and/or stalked. They get watched more closely than white teenagers. It’s hard for black teens and black people around American to live properly because they are being watched every day.
• Raneisha Brown – It’s rather important for young individuals to become aware of the act of stereotyping because in all truth stereotyping surrounds us every day. Honestly, all types of stereotyping are damaging in culture, if the stereotype is considered “negative.” There could be different situations where stereotypes are regarded as “positive” too, but young people all need to understand what a stereotype is.
• Zachary Byczynski – As history moves forward we do not want stereotypes to ruin society and segregate certain groups.
• Jenna Campbell – It is extremely necessary for today’s youth to learn about stereotypes because, together, we need to break them down. However, in order to do that we must first recognize what they are. There isn’t one stereotype in American culture that is most damaging because each one is hurtful to a person’s individually as well as to society as a whole. Stereotypes can break a society down and harm it beyond repair, but having an education on what stereotypes are can eliminate hate and set our culture free.
• Matthew Derosa – I feel young people today should definitely learn stereotypes. They learn them through their childhood anyway, so it would be good to let them know what’s true and false instead of being ignorant to the topic. I also feel all of the stereotypes are equally as diminishing as the next. However, race has a big role in stereotyping and in my opinion is the most common.
• Serena Green – Youth must learn about stereotypes lest they fall victim to them. I believe racial discrimination and sexism are the two most damaging, as they compartmentalize individuals for basic traits that they have no control over.
• Hannah Hopkins – In American culture, the most damaging stereotype is about black people, because people always label them as bad people just because of certain things that have happened. You shouldn’t stereotype because of a color, you should consider someone’s actions.
• Samantha Hotz – In my opinion, the most damaging stereotype in American culture is sexism. It’s not fair to discriminate against anyone, but bias against women is just awful. It’s not right at all. It is important for young people to learn early about stereotypes so they don’t fall into the different ones and so they don’t discriminate against others.
• Timothy Howell – If we don’t learn about stereotypes, we can’t stop them. I believe that if we don’t have the right knowledge, we will just go through life treating people ignorantly, not knowing the struggles people go through and how people are treated. The place this knowledge needs to start is childhood. Parents need to teach their children respect and how to treat people instead of letting them go throughout life treating people like they don’t matter. The biggest stereotype, I believe, is the stereotype against religion. Many people think because people belong to a certain religion they aren’t allowed to do, say or commit to certain things. Yes, there are things we cannot do as a part of a certain religion, but because people are ignorant to the subject all they do is bash people for doing what they do. So because this knowledge isn’t started at a young age kids can’t make their own decisions to understanding other people. Understanding is half the barrier. If we don’t have the right information, we will just go throughout life ignorantly.
• Wesley Hyslop – Young children growing up in America today need to be informed of many stereotypes. These stereotypes are harming people because they change the minds of young children, and the record needs to be set straight once and for all.
• Erica Martin – I think it is important for young people to learn about stereotypes because it helps them grow up with a better understanding of the cruelty in the world. Most stereotypes are not even a true statement. Ignorant people make up rude things about different people just because they look different or do different things. In my opinion, racism is the worst stereotype. Just because someone is different from you does not mean they are any less of a person. Racism has caused so much unrest and unnecessary acts of violence. Put a stop to stereotypes.
• Taylor Myers – It’s important for young people to learn there isn’t only one way of thinking. If they grow up thinking only one way, they won’t be able to understand other people.
• Kaylee Neil – It is important for young people to learn about stereotypes so they don’t judge people as much. I think the most damaging American stereotype is that all Americans only eat fast food and are lazy.
• Shannon Ortosky – Learning about stereotypes is important because society is based on stereotypes when it should not be.
• Daniel Pascoe – Stereotypes can cause more harm than good to people. Telling children something positive about themselves will make them feel good; something bad could take them down a dark path.
• Angus Pinkerton – As Nelson Mandela once stated, “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion. People must learn to hate … ” Educating young people about stereotypes will teach them the opposite of hate; it will teach them to appreciate other people and change the world for the better.
• Luc Potochar – If we are educated about stereotypes, then we will stop reinforcing them. The most dangerous stereotypes are those referring to African American culture.
• Bobby Scott – To stop stereotypes one must know about stereotypes. To spread awareness of discrimination and stereotypical statements would be ideal for young people. Young people need to learn and, more importantly, understand stereotypes; the good stereotypes and the bad stereotypes. Understanding is key to getting rid of the bad. The most damaging stereotypes to me are racial and sexual discriminating that says someone who is gay or someone of a different race is not OK.
• Elizabeth Sloan – It is important for young people to learn about stereotypes so that they don’t grow up ignorant to others’ cultures. The most damaging American stereotype today is toward the Islamic culture.
• Alec Varley – It is important to learn about stereotypes because we don’t want history to repeat itself.
• TiSahara Wooley – I think young people should learn about stereotypes to help end them. To me, the most damaging stereotype is that black people are “thugs” or “criminals.” This stereotype is often used to justify wrongful deaths. The media chooses to acknowledge black people as part of the problem instead of looking at the reason they died.
Have a question? Send it to Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski’s email at podmj@healthyteens.com.