第8次午间英语角话题：Stereotypes

Stereotypes and the W ay W e Judge Others
Stereotypes are generalizations and assumptions about groups, and the individual members of those groups. Stereotypes may seem positive or negative, they may even be accurate or inaccurate regarding average characteristics of a group, and may be used to justify certain discriminatory behaviors.
A negative stereotype of of an African American (black) man would be that he has been involved in criminal activity or drug dealing in his life, and that he is possibly dangerous.
To assume this about someone based on their skin color seems wrong doesn't it?
Why do you do you think this kind of stereotype developed in America and has spread around the world?
An example of a not negative stereotype of an African American male would be to assume that he likes and plays basketball and is good at sports. While this does not seem very negative, many black men would be annoyed if you expressed this stereotype to them.
Why do you think an assumption about someone you might feel is not a negative would bother them if they knew you thought it?
Would it bother you to know someone assumed something about you based on your ethnic background?
Here is a list of some common W estern stereotypes about Chinese people.
All Chinese people Learn Kung-Fu.
All Chinese people are good at Math and Science.
All Chinese students are very academic.
All Chinese people are serious and don't know how to play and party.
All Chinese people are short.
All Chinese people are hard working.
All Chinese people eat dogs (and therefore don't have dogs as pets).
All Chinese people eat rice at every meal.
As you can see you could label some of these stereotypes as “positive” and some as “negative,” yet did you feel any difference while reading them? Did they make you uncomfortable?
Did you find yourself agreeing with any of them, or understanding where the idea came from? If so do you think you have stereotypes about your own people?
Of course skin and hair color, eye shape and nationality are not the basis of all of our stereotypes. What about the ways we choose to look? What kinds of stereotypes do we have about the way people dress and groom themselves? Are those any different than racial stereotypes?
Does it bother you if someone assumes something about you based on your personal style? Haircut? Quality of shoes? Don't we do this to each other every day?
Have you stereotyped anyone recently? Think of some examples of assumptions you have had about other people based on the way they looked. Be ready to share them.。