The Subtlety of Stereotypes

“We must reject not only the stereotypes that others have of us but also those that we have of ourselves.”Shirley Chisholm

Ever heard phrases like

"Software developers are bad at socializing."

"HR is only for women.",

"Women are bad drivers."

“Asians are good at Math."

“An arts degree is useless."

“Wearing Glasses = Smart!"

Well, if yes, then you have first-hand witnessed the effects of stereotyping and unconscious bias common in human behaviour. Although many may not find these statements to be offensive, they can be hurtful to the people they are being addressed to, even if the person speaking has no ill intent. There is a subtle way these biases take root in our minds and constantly hinder the judgements and decisions we make about people. And sometimes, these decisions can have a far-reaching impact

“We shouldn’t judge people through the prism of our own stereotypes ” - Queen Rania of Jordan

There is no denying that men and women differ in certain ways The question is, though, how much of these differences actually reflect who men and women are, and how much of them are the result of the ‘stereotype lens’ we use to see men and women I posit that we misinterpret differences more than similarities

Ritu Kotnis And Krishna Chaturvedi MBA, 2022-24

When it comes to stereotyping, I don't believe that those who partake in such behaviour are inherently evil. What they are doing could be evil. It is important for us to differentiate between the two and only then can we take steps to reduce workplace evils. Considering historical facts, many stereotypes have actually come out of higher classes and castes, educated communities, developed countries, and developed nations. However, stereotyping by the educated poses a more serious issue because it is frequently passed off as valid or, as something having a patina of educated authority. Some might argue that stereotypes are a result of the natural evolution of our brains – forming quick patterns that helped us survive in the wilderness. But, in the modern, hyperconnected and diverse world, irrational stereotyping presents a serious problem Therefore, if you first address the issue rather than the individual, it will have a long-term effect

The Mental Mechanism behind Stereotyping

To understand stereotypes, we must pay attention to their triangular nature Stereotypes go hand in hand with prejudice, and prejudice goes hand in hand with discrimination, reinforcing stereotypes A stereotype is an assignment of an attribute to a group. For example, “Salespeople only care about themselves". Bias determines whether an attribute is desirable or undesirable, and discrimination acts on that bias. Therefore, unless we consciously look at long-held stereotypes as individuals, organizations continue to discriminate, consciously or unconsciously.

“So, are we in a rut? Are stereotypes our masters? Do we have no choice but to follow them since they are so pervasive, cunning, and powerful?

No. Not in any way. There are a lot of things that we can do – connect, think, understand, and empathize. Get to know other people who look different from you. Stop making hasty judgments about others. Think about what you have in common with others. Develop empathy for others. Try walking in their shoes. Find out about different cultures and groups.

Stereotyping is common because, despite our best efforts to be open-minded, we all harbour unconscious prejudices. But imagine being assessed and given a tag or label before you've had a chance to tell your story. Imagine being denied your uniqueness, creativity, and individuality because your characteristics "meet the stereotype's standards."

It is important that we recognise how deleterious these practices are because stereotypes are frequently used by society to justify targeted discrimination. In this time of increasing social inclusion, we need to do a better job of preserving kindness within the society

Last but not least, stop letting your stereotype define you. Look at your surroundings with your own eyes. Form judgements based on your personal experience. Use your own pencil to write your identity and live your life as you see fit.