Society & Politics

Generalizations and Stereotypes: Why They Exist

I've wanted to write about this for a long time and decided to now after a recent exchange I had with somebody here. This is actually something I've reflected on a lot more in my life in recent years, and I can say for me at least, that I've come to realize the truth about it.



Generalizations and Stereotypes


Generalizations are a part of life...


In truth, I actually neither agree or disagree with generalizations and stereotypes. Whether we like them or not, they are a common occurance and simply part of life, and it's neither fortunate or unfortunate. In a certain sense, "broad strokes" is a basic human way of trying to make a certain point. We're not necessarily saying that "ALL" such-and-such are this or that, but in speaking we're really just meaning more than one. Most of us do know that not ALL people fall into a certain group, but when we generalize it's our way of putting a number to something, and sometimes we do mean most of a group.



Many generalizations are true and then many others aren't. It is what it is. Often times people are ready to oppose generalizations when they feel offended by them, yet will use them or support them at any time when they want to. And we will often agree with which generalizations make us feel comfortable. So we can't play social justice warrior one minute, and then have mass agreement the next. Generalizations aren't going to stop just because we don't like them, and it doesn't necessarily make all of them wrong just because we don't like them. You have a lot of people these days - particularly the young activist generation - who think they can police us and what we say or think, and it just isn't going to work, and doesn't necessarily have to.



Racial generalizations and stereotypes...


Race is a sensitive issue, but there really are things that are "in general" with races. Cultures do have general actions, diets, behaviors, etc. The problem is that we just get offended when someone of another race talks about it, or even someone within our own race. But just because they do doesn't necessarily make it untrue. When you think about the basis of it, races and cultures have customs, meaning there are things each of us have or do that are general habits or lifestyles of our groups. It's stupid to try to be so pure and forward-thinking as to want people to think that "Not ALL Hispanics eat Hispanic food," or, "Not ALL Chinese people speak Chinese." Of course not ALL of the people in these groups fall into the generalization, but most do. And it's not wrong.


Generalizations and Stereotypes: Why They Exist

As a black man, I especially have to reflect more on the whole situation of it - as I myself have been stereotyped - and where I am now, I'm neither hurt nor unhurt by racial generalizations or stereotypes about being black. No doubt, I think general ideas like all black men have big penises, black people love watermelon, black people are criminal, etc. are stupid ideas, but in truth, a lot of us black people generalize each other! And we do it negatively a lot of the time, and have even created a lot of the stereotypes about our culture.



We ourselves speak in general of our race as being ghetto, that we steal, we like loud music, are always late, and love fried chicken and chittlings. And the truth is? Many generalizations about us are not entirely untrue. That in itself is a harsh truth. And what I can say is curious as a black person who is often very observant of his race, is that when white people suddenly stereotype us, we're ready to get mad and say how ignorant they are! And ready to declare how "Not ALL black people are like that." You can't look at it one way, and then hate it when someone else does. And this too is a timeless truth about black Americans.


Generalizations and Stereotypes: Why They Exist

Hell, I could go on and on about the flaws in our communities, but it would take way more than one Take to write. Not to mention we ourselves stereotype white people and Hispanics! We're constantly generalizing things as "white" and we even make jokes about Hispanics living in a house or apartment full of 10 people. I think it's rude to say stuff like that, especially when I have Latina friends and interests.



So to be honest, I actually am not offended by certain generalizations and stereotypes. It doesn't really bother me if black people are generalized for liking fried chicken - hell, I love it. It doesn't bother me when people say black people aren't on time - I know that there are plenty of us who do get out of bed and aren't late, but I also know that a lot of others of us still can't seem to shake that habit, and want to joke and make excuses for it. And, yes, it is largely true that black people have to have loud music at home and at just about every get-together, and it does annoy me.



I do agree with some generalizations, and to others I neither agree or disagree. Did it bother me when NYC mayor Bill De Blasio joked about "colored people's time" when he endorsed Hillary? It shocked me for a moment, yeah. Would it bother me if I over heard a white person on the train talking to their friends about how black people can't keep their hands to themselves and are always stealing? It would shock the hell outta me, no doubt, and I would feel like they have some nerve to say that, but at the end of the day if I believed it or said it with my own black friends later on, then I can't crucify a white person for it either, can I? Or does it just bother me because I heard a white person be bold enough to say it?


Generalizations and Stereotypes: Why They Exist


The bottom line is that racist generalizations and stereotypes exist and will keep existing whether I like them or not, it is - again - neither a fortunate nor unfortunate part of life. It's both ignorant and true. There are some I think are true and others I think are stupid. And even if you got rid of stereotypes of today, there will always be new ones to develop, because that's just how humans are. In our scope of things, we have a habit for labelling, because we really can't see or know what's really the entire picture.



Gender stereotypes and generalizations...


This too is an extremely common thing. And guess what? Almost everybody does it. Is it right? No. Is it wrong? No. When I was younger I used to be super sensitive to women's generalizations about men, and I could get on the defense about it, but now as a grown man, I guess it just doesn't bother me that much anymore. Do I think women make ignorant generalizations about men? Sure, many times. Do I think all generalizations about men are wrong? Not all of them, no. It is what it is.



There are things about guys that can be generalized, and then there are things that aren't really worth generalizing. I could disagree with a woman's generalization about men and tell her what I think is wrong about it, but it wouldn't necessarily make her wrong cuz I did, and she wouldn't necessarily be right to begin with either. It is what it is.


Generalizations and Stereotypes: Why They Exist

What I'm more concerned with is the contradictions of it. Both genders don't like being generalized, but often I see women being much more offended by generalizations and getting defensive about them and ready to call it "sexist." And they only do this when it's a general statement about them that may very well be true but what they don't like or want to hear, when they are often some of the biggest generalizers. They try to say that guys do the same thing, and sometimes we do, but guys will often agree with generalizations and stereotypes about their gender.



Females (I'm generalizing right now) do tend to have a curious way of picking and choosing which generalizations they will agree with or like. If it's an unfortunate or damning truth about them, there is mass outcry, but if it's a particularly glowing praise about them and their character, they eat it up and accept it and declare it as truth. There is then no protest. You will never hear women say, "Hey! You can't say ALL women are more emotional!" "Not ALL of us want commitment and long-lasting relationships, that's ignorant and sexist." It really is kind of fascinating to see.



Recently I posted a Take about things I've learned about women in my life, and all but one of the females who commented took offense. It was neither a jab at women or praise for them. And I was surprised to see so many females like it. However, if the Take had've been only all praise for female characteristics and behaviors, there still would've been many, many more females to agree and eat it up.



That's how it is...


So really whether we like it or not, generalizations happen. And we don't have to agree with them if we don't want to. But it's not always gonna change because we don't. It's just the way life is. Although we can be angry when we're negatively stereotyped, many times we also get upset about it because we feel threatened when someone from the outside looking in sees how we are, especially if we act just like what they're saying. That quakes us inside because it was brought to light. We hate that somebody pointed it out. Well, that's life.


Generalizations and Stereotypes: Why They Exist

To anyone who doesn't generalize and thinks before they cast the first stone, power to you. I think that's great too. But sometimes other people aren't wrong when they said something in general about a group either. It's not a good or bad habit.



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Generalizations and Stereotypes: Why They Exist
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