Even though people have been discussing stereotypes for centuries, people continue to type and stereotype others. They continue to perceive others as nothing but stereotypes.
Men stereotype women. Women stereotype men. Every ethnic, racial, and religious groups continues to be typed and stereotyped.
And no matter how much we learn about this and the destructiveness for everybody, we continue to type and stereotype.
Many people excuse themselves by stating that there is some basis in reality.
Let's say you have the Latin Lover stereotype or the Polish are dumb stereotype, or your favorite stereotype.
Of course you are going to find people in those ethnic groups that appear to confirm your stereotypes. You're going to find some Latin lovers and some Polish who are not as intelligent as you are. Nevertheless, this doesn't mean you continue the stereotype.
Much of stereotyping is your own projection. You might be in the presence of a top level Polish intellectual or a Latino who's not necessarily the best lover, but nevertheless if you have this powerful image or thought, then of course you are going to be in the presence of a Latin lover or even a lovable Latin or a stupid Polish person.
Some of the most intelligent blondes are perceived as stupid and even given stupid roles in stupid movies that continue this outrageous stereotype. Or they've got to play some version of Marilyn Monroe, when they are not Marilyn Monroe. Maybe they want to play a scholar in the movies or a scientist.
Many people trying to prove themselves and prove who they are continuously doing battle with typing and stereotyping and finding it impossible.
Most people can not do battle with stereotypes. The only thing that can do battle with stereotypes is education, educating people about what stereotyping is and giving them problem-solving techniques.
Most people cannot do battle with how others perceive them. Most of the battle is transforming perceptions not necessarily people.
For example if you're an entertainer. You have to meet with many different people. You're in the movies. You go on location. People perceive you as some stupid person going with anybody and everybody because that's their perception of entertainers, then it's very different for you to prove to these people that you don't behave in that manner.
Now people have stereotypes of priests working with little children. As an honorable priest, you have to do battle with that stereotype. You're an honorable priest whose honorable with little children. Now you must do battle with a stereotype.
Almost everybody is typed and stereotyped. They type and stereotype others and they themselves are typed and stereotyped. Many people are running around in circles trying to prove that they are not some type or stereotype.
This is very destructive for everybody.
What do you do?
You simply tell people you're not a stereotype. You cannot control the manner in which they perceive you. You have them read and study and learn. You have them educate themselves. If they continue this, you make it clear that you don't tolerate this anymore.
If people become destructive towards you based upon some stereotype, then you make it clear this is not going to be tolerated anymore.
That the questions of stereotypes and typing has been debated and debated for centuries.
At some point we have to decide what we are not going to tolerate.
If it's absolutely necessary for you to prove you're not a stereotype, then you have to work with professionals and experts on this topic.
Slavery for example. People debated and debated slavery for centuries. At some point people have to just make the determination what they are not going to tolerate. Otherwise, people continue to debate and debate and debate and continue their foolishness.
At some point people just have to draw the line with what they do not tolerate from others. And you have to have many people that decide this is what we are not going to tolerate.
This doesn't mean becoming destructive to others. You don't have to do that. You just tell them no you are not a Latin lover, you're not a dumb blonde, you're not a stupid Polish person, you're not a wealthy New York (any ethnic group), and you're not going to tolerate it nor do you play these roles for them.
Of course, if you don't play the role, some Latin lover, some dumb blonde, some stupid Polish person, some wealthy New York (any ethnic group) is going to play the role that you refuse, and so people are going to continue the stereotype and continue the conversation.
As we know that slavery continues in some of these countries, even in some of these African countries, and we also know that there are many forms of slavery on many different levels, including psychological slavery, that almost everybody participates in, despite our denials.
So what to do if you are stereotyped?
Don't tolerate being stereotyped and don't stereotype others.
Then keep the conversation going.
Read books on the subject and study. Learn from the experts on stereotyping. Review the advice of experts.
Write articles and books on the subject of stereotyping.
