| This past week in my U.S. History class we have | | | | After you have thought about the ways you |
| been talking about some of the stereotypes the | | | | have been stereotyped, try to think about the |
| Native Americans faced. We then are relating this | | | | ways that you may have prejudices or |
| to the students own lives-both how they have | | | | stereotypes against other groups of people. |
| experienced stereotypes and how they have | | | | These stereotypes and prejudices don't make |
| been stereotypical of others. This is a vital | | | | you a bad person; in fact, many of them are not |
| practice we should apply to our own lives in | | | | even your fault. They have been programmed |
| overcoming our own hidden prejudices and | | | | into you by society and your experiences. |
| judgmental attitudes. | | | | However, it is essential that you know are aware |
| First of all, try to think of areas in your life where | | | | of what they are, so that you can try to reduce |
| you felt you have experienced unfair prejudice or | | | | their influence over you as much as possible. |
| stereotypes because of a certain part of who | | | | Those who say that they don't have prejudices |
| you are. In my life, I think can think of a few | | | | and stereotypes are simply denying the truth to |
| areas. For example, living in here in Costa Rica, I | | | | themselves and preventing any true change and |
| sometimes feel that I am stereotyped because I | | | | personal growth. I have often found myself to be |
| am from the U.S. There is a stereotype that | | | | stereotypical of other individuals whether it is |
| most people from the U.S. are ethnocentric and | | | | because of their nationality, religion, political beliefs, |
| ignorant about other cultures. I remember going | | | | or upbringing. It is often more sub-conscious than |
| to a diversity retreat during my time at the | | | | conscious, but it affects me nonetheless. |
| University and felt that I was being "stereotyped" | | | | If you can do this little practice it can be quite |
| because I was one of the only WASP's (White | | | | eye opening. It is important to see the ways in |
| Anglo-Saxon Protestant) in the group. I have been | | | | which we are stereotyped, because it makes |
| stereotyped because I am a Christian. Often | | | | more aware of the danger of stereotyping other |
| Christianity, especially in the U.S., has been | | | | people. It is also important to be aware of our |
| associated with judgmental attitudes and right | | | | own prejudices in order to not let them control |
| wing politics. I have also been stereotyped | | | | our decisions and interactions with others. In the |
| because of my progressive political views from | | | | end, this activity applies to much more than just |
| the backdrop of my more conservative | | | | 8th grade History class, it is a practice that can |
| upbringing- which some people automatically label | | | | be great importance in each of our lives-no |
| as reactionary. | | | | matter are age or background. |