After reading the section on this topic in our book, I couldn't stop thinking about how prevalent this is in our lives. First there is stereotyping, which involves creating a generalization about a group of people based on a person. This often happens with women or men. For example, back when Hilary Clinton was running for president. I heard numerous people say how it was a bad idea because she was a female. "Females can't be presidents. Imagine what it would be like having a female president that is "PMS-ing", or being over emotional in a situation that needs to show strength not emotion. It would be horrible." That was a comment from someone who I had a long conversation with about the whole subject at hand. I couldn't believe that he was grouping all females to be over emotional. I am someone who completely holds back a lot of emotion and often doesn't get very emotional. So this started a heated response from me. Another common example of a stereotyping is men don't cry. This I have heard numerous times from numerous people in different situations. However, not only do i have a brother that grew up with just my mom and I and resulted in being somewhat of an emotional man but he is nevertheless still a man. Also my boyfriend, is very sensitive and very emotional. Which doesn't make him any less of man because he cries when we get in fights or when he is sad or upset.
Another thing that is obvious in our culture is polarized thinking. Which shows that there is a right and a wrong out of everything. You can't be both or neither. For example, I think it is silly how often we have to check Female or Male on almost anything. I.E. email accounts, surveys, applications, etc. I think that really makes people identify with their gender. I think it is sad, the way our culture has kind of fit us into these little square boxes and everyone needs to fit into them. Then they slap a label on the box, and that is now who you are. I think it has been blown out of proportion how they try to mold you into what they want or place you in a box of generalized assumptions and label you.
I think it is so sad that our society does this. Often when they make polarized assumptions or stereotype people, it creates a negative energy to the word or phrase they are titling the person with. Like for example, the other day a good friend who is successful was trying to show her relatives at a reunion that she was a successful young adult. They asked her what she did for work, and she replied she is a hairstylist and... Her aunt interrupted that she should really try to go to school and get an education instead of joining the "undereducated" group of that is in the hairstyling community. She was appalled and responded saying she didn't even let her finish, that she just opened a salon and it is doing exceptionally well. Her aunt still replied that she should try to further educate herself to get ahead in this world. I think that is so sad how she is a salon owner and an excellent hairstylist but it just doesn't add up to anything to her family, except being "undereducated". Its sad.
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