Don't Let Stereotypes Warp Your Judgment

1. What is a Stereotype?

1.1. Stereotypes are ideas or beliefs about people that we accept before actually knowing anything about the person.

2. The Dangers of Stereotyping

2.1. Stereotypes make us mentally lazy; we accept what we think something "should be" instead of what it is, because we tend to substitute stereotypes for observation.

3. What I Learned About Diversity

4. I never thought about how teaching children to distinguish between "the good guys and the bad guys" teaches them to use stereotypes. It's interesting how many parents use these concepts to keep their kids safe, but at the same time teach them to accept diversity and avoid stereotyping.

5. Why We Stereotype

5.1. We stereotype to make sense of something that might otherwise be confusing. We think that if we know what we're looking at, that's what it will be. Stereotypical ideas are taught to us from the time we are children, and are continued through our adult lives.

6. How to Stop Stereotying

6.1. We can stop stereotyping by learning to be aware of the stereotypes around us, being wary of ideas that are proven by exceptions, and taking caution to not use generalizations.