In my Gender, Race, and Class in the Media class we discussed yesterday how stereotypes and racial profiling are very prevelent and can sometimes even upset the people who are not a part of this stereotypes. We watched a movie in which they talked about the african-american stereotype within the advertising media of the early 20th century. This made my heart feel heavy because I could not imagine how it would be to be a part of that race and not be advertised too because I was a different color of skin. We watched examples of how in past cartoons they would always make the black characters out to be ignorant and unintelligent. Also a boy in my class pointed out how in Dumbo, the crows represent the blacks and then also in The Jungle Book the monkeys are representing the blacks. I feel like this is so inconsiderate of Disney to produce because the crows and monkeys are made out to be stupid and pointless.
Obviously, times have changed but I still feel as though we judge stereotypical situations prejudicially based upon the race or gender of the parties involved. When we see an asian driver we automatically think they are a bad driver. We see a hispanic and we automatically associate them with a low-income job. It really is sad. I think that we sometimes think people are nothing but their stereotypes.
I'm saying up front I do NOT believe that stereotypes are necessarily true but I do think that many people feel they cannot break through their stereotype. It's so prevalent in the media and in their social lives that it is almost impossible to find your true self within the stereotype. I really hope that no one holds themselves to their racial or gender-based stereotypes because we, as humans, are truly something much more complex.
