Blog: Students on Stereotyping
April 27, 2012 • 33 views
Filed under Blogs, Recent Stories
Junior Sarah McDonnell walks into the crowded hallways of Legacy. Students of different ages, genders and races bustle around her. As she walks she sees two groups of kids arguing with each other. She shakes her head and walks away. The way people view and treat each other makes McDonnell feel disappointed.
“I think stereotypes are abused all of the time,” McDonnell said. “I’m human, so I treat people differently, but after I get to know someone I take them out of any stereotypes. I don’t feel like stereotypes should have to do with anything, but it does. It’s human nature.”
In class McDonnell watches as the students split into their groups of friends. The interactions between students seem to vary from fun and playful to intolerant and rude. She remains neutral as all of these things happen around her. Her friend, senior Khiry Cleveland, jumps between groups and talks with everyone.
“I think stereotyping is wrong,” Cleveland said. “You can’t categorize someone based on what a group of people have done. People should be more careful about stereotyping.”
Clashing between cliques and people with different views has bothered McDonnell for a long time. She does her best not to stereotype and believes other people should do the same. Senior Ethan Kamphaus feels similarly and does not agree with stereotyping. He tries to avoid conflict with people he doesn’t agree with and feels bad for people who stereotype.
“Stereotyping is a bad thing,” Kamphaus said. “It’s a ‘judging a book by its cover’ thing. You don’t make judgements before you get to know someone. If we do then we are all living on premature judgements.”
McDonnell continues to be open minded to everyone she meets and she hopes other people will do the same.
“Ignorance would probably be the best word to describe stereotyping,” McDonnell said. “If you get to know someone and you still put them in that stereotype, there is something wrong.”
