The Role Of Racial Stereotypes In Literature

“Asians are supposed to be good at math”, “Women are supposed to stay at home”, “Black people don’t know how to read nor write” and “All blondes are dumb.” The number of times these sentences are repeated is disappointing. Stereotypes have existed longer that it’s supposed to. Stereotypes are assumptions of a certain group; whether it be a race, age, gender, sexuality, religion, or a physical ability. The most common stereotypes to exist are racial, religion and gender stereotypes. They have been plastered onto our minds and hearts by society, since the day we are born and to the day when we’re being brought down six feet under the ground. It is sad to think that even the most innocent and kindest minds have said or thought of something stereotypical, racist, sexist and, offensive; without meaning to, because we’re taught to think that it is true and right. Stereotypes have been shown in the media and in literature for so many years. …show more content…
They are the automatic mental ideas that we have about all members of a certain racial group. It’s to think that because an individual of a certain race has a characteristic or trait means all members of the race is just the same. For example, to think that all Asians are Chinese; all Whites are racist; or that all Blacks are lazy. These are all assumptions that aren’t even true most of the time. Many have lived to fight these misconceptions about races, but still we stand today hearing millions of them every day. I, in the time I have lived, have heard plenty of stereotypical comments; and has shamefully said some. A shocking comment that I have heard was from a teacher complaining that she and her HOD expect more from our class, ‘since we’re not Arabs’. She was implying that the other classes were lazy and in a way, dumb. This is not true, because although the other sections may be rowdy, they have outstanding grades and are some of the smartest people I