Are you a stereotype?

Without a doubt you have answered no.  Stereotypes are general and one-dimensional views of a person or object.

Negative stereotypes: blondes are dumb.

Positive stereotypes: Black people all play sports well.

Racial stereotypes: Caucasians have no rhythm (can’t dance).

Gender stereotypes: Women can’t drive.

False, false and false. Think Marie Curie (only PERSON to ever win the noble prize twice), Patricia Bath (invented the cataract laser probe to painlessly remove cataracts – glad she did not waste her talent in the WNBA), Fred Astaire (floated on air when he danced) and of course, Danica Patrick (say no more).

The video below discusses how we see ourselves – be it nationalistic, cultural or even racial and how it stand up to scientific testing.

Stereotypes help people categorise and classify their relationship to others, but they are often negative and allow some to rationalise themselves as superior or more deserving than others. Another dangerous route is confusing race with culture.

Immigrants come from  different countries shaped by varied cultures. You may have seen some East Asians wearing surgical masks in Toronto. You can stereotype them or ask yourself if it is cultural. Japan, China and Korea all have heavy pollution in their cities and have suffered from air-borne illness such as SARS and bird flu. If it is cultural – culture evolves and adapts.

Race and stereotypes are always difficult concepts to discuss but if Canada is to continue to be the amazing country it is, we as immigrants need to determine how our culture must evolve to provide our children with a roadmap in completely different terrain. It does not mean that our values have changed, but it may  mean how we express those values may differ. It is natural to classify different cultures and even stereotype others. It helps us deal with difference, but you can choose for it to be a positive experience for all involved.

Before we had a race, religion, culture or even gender – we were all simply human. Our humanity remains our most important attribute.