Sameyah, Soraya

Professor Vana
English 114A

Is stereotyping ok?

Whether we like it or not, we are all judged by people we do not know and we all
judge people before we get to know them. In my opinion stereotyping is ok. We need to
stereotype in certain situations to maintain a level of safety and security. Certain people
need to stereotype because of their jobs. It is a natural thing to stereotype and judge
people by your gut feeling.
Stereotyping happens all around. In airports, schools, outdoor places, it happens
everywhere. In airports you are racially profiled/ stereotyped based on how you look. My
dad, being Iranian, is a prime example of someone being stereotyped. Every time he goes
through an airport he is stopped and searched because he has the same physical
appearance as a terrorist would. My dad is being stereotyped as a terrorist just because he
is Middle Eastern. Now, my dad has no problem being stopped and searched because he
would rather airport security take extra precautions after 9/11, and hopefully prevent
another terrorist attack like 9/11. We stereotype Middle Easterns much more aggressively
after the attack of 9/11. We think that all Muslims, all Middle Easterns are part of a
terrorist organization. In my opinion, if you have nothing to hide, why should that be an
issue to someone?

According to the article Reality TV goes where Football Meets the Hijab, Ryan
Seacrest stated, Armed with chromed-out-cars, logo ridden purses and designer outfits,
they have got it, and they are not afraid to flaunt it. But whiles these young socialites
know how to spend money-they also know the value of family and tradition. To most
people who are not from the Middle Eastern culture, Iranians are just known for their
expensive clothes, cars, and accessories. What they do not know is that we also are very
big on the importance of family and friends. That is a huge stereotype about Iranians that
still is being carried on today. Being an Iranian girl, everyone always assumes that I get
everything handed to me, that with the snap of my fingers I can get whatever I want from
anyone. Again, another usual stereotype about Iranian girls. Now I am not saying that
that does not happen in other households, but in mine, I have to earn whatever it is I
want. Now I do not care if I am stereotyped because I know I am not what people think
I am, as the same when I stereotype other people before I get to know them and see
whether or not my idea of them was actually correct or not.
Some people need to stereotype and judge people based on how they look. Police
officers must stereotype and judge to keep the security of the citizens. If something looks
off about someone, or they get a negative gut feeling from seeing or coming in contact
with someone is ok. The Police are there to keep us safe. How can they do that if
stereotyping is something we should not do? If it something that is looked down upon?
We need to stereotype and listen to what our gut says about some people.
Moving from the subject of Police officers to something that seems much less
intense, like a playground for instance. It would seem like a place that has no judgment or
stereotyping at all, but that is not the case. Mothers in particular are much more

protective and cautious when it comes to who is around their kids at a playground. If they
see something or someone they do not like, lets say a man, lurking around the
playground, or bathrooms, mothers will immediately judge that person and make an
assumption based on the persons appearance and actions. Mothers are constantly
stereotyping when it comes to the safety of their kids. They will make assumptions,
judge, and listen to their gut feeling just to protect their children.
Now, some people would say that stereotyping is a bad thing and should not be
done by anyone despite all the reasons I have listed above for why stereotyping is a good
thing. People will say that it is an act of racism to stereotype people. By stereotyping
people, you are judging them, and making them out to be a person that they may or may
not be. And most of the time, they are not what you think they are. For instance my dad is
an Iranian American. He was born in Iran but fled when the revolution happened. He
considers the United States to be his home. Why would his home be judging him just
because of how he looks? Is that how we, the United States, should be known for?
Judging every single dark Middle Eastern because of the attack on 9/11? This next
sentence was taken from the website http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bethany-stjames/stereotyping-and-prejudic_b_1255736.html, and it states, All powerful, career
driven women are single and lonely. All Latinos are here illegally. All Muslims are
terrorists. All White people are racist. All Gay Men are feminine. All Christians are bible
thumping, gay bashers. All African Americans are on welfare. All New Yorkers are rude.
All politicians are crooks. Those are just some of the many different false and negative
stereotypes that we put on people we do not even know/ have not even met. Is that ok to
do, some people might ask. This next statement from is taken from the website

http://truth-out.org/speakout/item/19138-stereotypes-in-society#, Just by looking at

someones skin color a lot of stereotypes flood through your mind. If you are darkskinned you are seen as a drug addict who is violent and carries weapons. We have
grown up to believe all these stereotypes. According to Obama ...Whatever hardships
you may experience because of your race, they pale in comparison to the hardships
previous generations endured - and overcame. This just shows how we are taught to be
responsible for what other people think of us. How we are the ones who should change
and not the people who think this way of us? Why should the people being stereotyped
into these certain groups have to change? How does that make any sense? We should
change the people who are stereotyping and putting people into these certain groups.
Those are the people that need to change how they think because it is not right.
In conclusion, stereotyping is an act that is done for many reasons as I have listed
above. Certain people need to stereotype based on their jobs, based on a security aspect.
There are reasons why we humans stereotype and do not think twice about it. It is in our
nature, and we should not get rid, look down upon, or hide something that has been
imbedded in our genes.

Works Cited Page

De La Rosa, Vianey. "Stereotypes in Society." Truthout. N.p., 30 May 2013.

Web. 25 Nov. 2014. <http://truth-out.org/speakout/item/19138-stereotypes-in-society>.
James, Bethany St. "Stereotyping and Prejudice Is Alive and Well in American
Society." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 06 Feb. 2012. Web. 25 Nov.
2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bethany-st-james/stereotyping-andprejudic_b_1255736.html>.