Friday, October 7, 2011

[HBBC] Sterotypes & Me

This is my third 'Half-Baked Bloggers Consortium' (HBBC) post!


Meet the HBBC members [here] :D 



The other day in my lunch break at office I started a discussion about stereotypes "I can't really recall how it all started". I just simply asked about experiences with stereotypical issues. It was amazing the many stories I heard and the arguments relating to being stereotyped. I came to a conclusion that EVERYONE no matter who you are has been stereotyped at one point of time or another. Whether it was knowingly or not!

Ever thought how stereotypes had first started? Well, this is what I think is how it all started.

I *think* stereotypes are just the side effect of people grouping themselves with others who are like themselves, and also other people segregating people who are not like themselves.  People mostly stick around people they have things in common with, and in our extremely race, age and gender-aware Arab societies, that tends to mean: you stick to people of your own gender/race/age because you all have those experiences (both positive and negative) in common. Grouping yourself like that is bound to develop habits and traits not present in other groups. All nods in agreement when you do something they usually do or approve as 'right' and in the other hand, they might abandon you for coming up with something they aren't used to or consider 'unusual/inappropriate'.


That been said by me, I still don't think that it gives people the right to make assumptions based on a stereotype or a common thought. I hate being stereotyped, and therefore, I wouldn't like to stereotype anyone!


Peace :)

10 comments:

Maha said...

That was a quite smart take on the subject. I have never thought of it this way; it is VERY making sense though.

Noor said...

I agree with Maha, I like how you rationalized it. It's true, yet doesn't make it justifiable.

You end it perfectly:
I hate being stereotyped, and therefore, I wouldn't like to stereotype anyone!

Windswept Dreams said...

I liked your rationale, although I do think its hard to stop stereotypes from forming no matter how unwillingly.

Salima Al Masrouri said...

@Maha: Thanks a lot :D I think having discussed the topic earlier with my colleagues and hearing their various stories helped a lot in articulating the eay I look at it!

@Noor: Exactly, trying to understand it doesn't make it justifiable..and that wasn't my intention. Thanks a lot Noor x

@Windswept Dreams: True. I don't think it would stop, too! Thanks for reading <3

Anonymous said...

I like what you wrote. Everything in life rotates around the Us vs Them mentality.. we are good, they are bad.. we mirror image to belittle our enemies. Like what Americans or the US gov did to be more precise.. that Arabs are dangerous, Muslims are terrorist.. any guy with a dark skin tone is a threat..

Indeed one is safe among his/her 'equals' being from a cultural, social, political, ethnic perspective and the outside world with its multitude of 'Others' is one huge threat to their 'sanity' thus its good to project negative things about them so one can still feel secure and a bit superior.

Sorry for the long comment.

Cristina M. Ch. said...

I love the way that you explain how we get attached to the people in groups that "are" like us, so we can feel accepted the way we are. I never though of it that way and it makes me glad to have a new perspective about the subject. It seems the main idea of HBBC is working :)

Keep it going!

Salima Al Masrouri said...

@Ammar: interesting comment and it somehow made me think that Some people are insecure and I *therefore* suspect that many people find that judging others distracts from their own weaknesses.
Long story short:
Feeling insecure = sterotype others = distrct from own weaknesses
Does that make sense to you? Coz it does to me! :D
Thaaanks for your comment!

@Cristyna: this is how I could logically explain it and, again, I don't think it's an excuse whatsoever to stereotype and judge others.
I love the HBBC and love how I got to read you all through it <3
Peace x

Rami said...

It was so interesting to read your port about stereotypes as I am a student living in Europe. No matter how tolerant and friendly we are with people around us, they would be some room for stereotypical images in their minds.

Surprisingly, I have to make a presentation on stereotypes and the role that media can play.

Even though I am from the mid-east, its still difficult for me to cluster my ideas ..

Thanks for the post ;)

Rami said...

It was so interesting to read your port about stereotypes as I am a student living in Europe. No matter how tolerant and friendly we are with people around us, they would be some room for stereotypical images in their minds.

Surprisingly, I have to make a presentation on stereotypes and the role that media can play.

Even though I am from the mid-east, its still difficult for me to cluster my ideas ..

Thanks for the post ;)

Salima Al Masrouri said...

Hi Rami,

Wow what a coincidence. Now you have all the HBBC input as a reference :p

Thanks for passing by & for the comemnts

Cheers :)