Chapter 2 Stereotyping, Predujice, and Racism

Question 6 and 9: These two questions are related and I answer both at the same time.

6. Connecting  Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Racism

9. Impacts of Stereotyping, prejudice, and racism on your own life.

I never thought about the definition of stereotype, prejudice and racism in the way that I do today. These three concepts can completely detrimental to those who do not truly know the meaning of them.

Stereotyping is a cognitive (mental) concept of perceiving others. In other words is the way in which certain groups of people use to differentiate them from others.  Let me give you an example:  (be honest in your answer) think about the first time you heard about the fact that my first languages Spanish, what was the first thought that comes to your mind? Probably the first thought that comes to your mind was that I come from Mexico. This happens because for most US American people every person who speaks Spanish comes from Mexico.

On the other hand prejudice is the attitudinal part of our perceptions, how do we feel about other people. How do I feel about Spanish people? How do I behave with Spanish people? My attitude with them reflects if I have prejudice or not.

Last but not least racism is the belief that one race is superior to another (Noel, J. p. 61). English is better than Spanish, Americans are better that Hispanics. Also Hispanics from Europe are better that Hispanics from central and South America.

These are examples of simples things Hispanics like me has to pass through every day here in US. This is the way that most of our students feels. Please think about it…