Req 10 — Stereotypes & Individuality
Stereotypes are everywhere — in movies, in jokes, in the assumptions people make about each other before they even say hello. This requirement asks you to understand how stereotypes work, why they are harmful, and what you can do to push back against them.
What Is a Stereotype?
A stereotype is an oversimplified belief about an entire group of people. Stereotypes reduce complex, unique individuals to a single label based on their race, gender, religion, nationality, age, or any other group identity.
Some examples:
- “All teenagers are lazy.”
- “Boys don’t cry.”
- “People who wear glasses are nerdy.”
- Assumptions about someone’s abilities based on their race or where they are from.
Notice that stereotypes can seem “positive” on the surface (“All Asians are good at math”) but are still harmful because they erase individuality. A person is never just their group — they are a full, complex human being with their own strengths, struggles, and story.
How Stereotypes Lead to Prejudice and Discrimination
Stereotypes do not stay harmless. They follow a chain:
Stereotype → Prejudice → Discrimination
- Stereotype (belief): “That group of people is like this.” A generalization that replaces individual knowledge.
- Prejudice (feeling): The stereotype shapes how you feel about someone before you even know them. You might feel distrust, fear, or superiority without any real reason.
- Discrimination (action): Prejudice turns into behavior — treating someone unfairly because of the group they belong to. Not hiring someone, excluding them from a group, or targeting them with harassment.
This chain can be subtle. You might not even realize you are doing it. That is why awareness is the first step to breaking the cycle.
Why Stereotypes Are Harmful
Even when people do not intend to be hurtful, stereotypes cause real damage:
They limit people. When someone is stereotyped, they may feel pressured to conform to the expectation — or they may give up trying to prove it wrong. Psychologists call this stereotype threat: when people are aware of a negative stereotype about their group, they may perform worse because of the anxiety it creates.
They erase individuality. Every person is more than their group identity. Stereotypes prevent you from seeing the real, complicated, interesting person standing in front of you.
They justify unfair treatment. When you believe a stereotype, it becomes easier to justify treating people differently — denying opportunities, excluding them, or ignoring their needs.
They create division. Stereotypes build walls between people who might otherwise be allies, friends, or teammates.
Challenging Assumptions
Your counselor will want to hear your ideas for challenging stereotypes and celebrating individuality. Here are some strategies to consider:
Get curious, not judgmental. When you catch yourself making an assumption about someone, pause and ask yourself: “Is this based on who they actually are, or on a stereotype?” Then get to know the real person.
Diversify your inputs. Read books, watch movies, and follow social media accounts from people with different backgrounds and experiences. The more perspectives you are exposed to, the harder it is for stereotypes to survive.
Speak up. When you hear a stereotype used as a joke or a casual comment, say something. You do not have to lecture — a simple “That’s not really fair” or “People are more complicated than that” makes a difference.
Celebrate what makes people unique. Instead of lumping people into categories, look for what makes each person distinctive. Ask about their hobbies, their goals, their story.
Celebrating Individuality
Challenging stereotypes is only half the equation. The other half is actively celebrating what makes each person unique. A few ways to do that:
- Ask questions. “What are you passionate about?” is a much better conversation starter than assumptions.
- Highlight diverse strengths. In group settings, point out what each person brings to the table — their unique skills, perspectives, and ideas.
- Share your own story. When you open up about what makes you unique — even the parts that do not fit neatly into expectations — you give others permission to do the same.
Stereotypes are powerful, but they are not permanent. Every time you choose to see a person instead of a label, you weaken the stereotype’s grip — on yourself and on the world around you.