Prejudice in Passing: An Analysis of the Stereotypes Cast Upon Arab People
Memo #1 Stereotyping is a natural process in the human brain. In all situations, the brain automatically categorizes information that is received. When people are viewed, their qualities are put into bins and categories. This is what leads to stereotyping. People are put into the stereotypes and categories due to skin color, origin, sexual orientation, and many other factors. In all parts of the world, Arab people are stereotyped and profiled in many ways too. However, there are two stereotypes that, for most people, are the first thought when it comes to Arab stereotypes. These common stereotypes of Arab people, created by the people and reinforced by the media, include …show more content…
In some American’s minds, a strong sense of nationalism outweighs logical thinking. Some may even believe that all that is going on in the middle east is terrorism and violence. But, is this the fault of the people, or the fault of the media? In his book, People Like Us: Misrepresenting the Middle East, Joris Luyendijk explores the misrepresentation and portrayal of Arab people and the Arab world in the media, “Would it make a difference if we talked about Devotion, God’s Party, and The Basis rather than about Hamas, Hezbollah, or Al-Qaida?” (Luyendijk). The world is already so set in their views of the Arab world and Arab people, that it is hard to know if this distorted reality will ever be broken and the truth about this rich Arab culture will be realistically represented. The other most common stereotype about Arab people concerns the women. As a woman, it truly is agonizing to see other strong women being so misrepresented throughout the world. Once again, in his book, Joris Luyendijk expressed another aspect of misrepresentation in the Arab world. In his travels as a reporter, Joris had not sooner realized that not only was the media changing people’s perspectives, but he was as well, “Most disturbing was the way I’d misrepresented women in my articles” (Luyendijk). For some reason, society had gone so far as to stereotype women in one way, but
Memo #1 Stereotyping is a natural process in the human brain. In all situations, the brain automatically categorizes information that is received. When people are viewed, their qualities are put into bins and categories. This is what leads to stereotyping. People are put into the stereotypes and categories due to skin color, origin, sexual orientation, and many other factors. In all parts of the world, Arab people are stereotyped and profiled in many ways too. However, there are two stereotypes that, for most people, are the first thought when it comes to Arab stereotypes. These common stereotypes of Arab people, created by the people and reinforced by the media, include …show more content…
In some American’s minds, a strong sense of nationalism outweighs logical thinking. Some may even believe that all that is going on in the middle east is terrorism and violence. But, is this the fault of the people, or the fault of the media? In his book, People Like Us: Misrepresenting the Middle East, Joris Luyendijk explores the misrepresentation and portrayal of Arab people and the Arab world in the media, “Would it make a difference if we talked about Devotion, God’s Party, and The Basis rather than about Hamas, Hezbollah, or Al-Qaida?” (Luyendijk). The world is already so set in their views of the Arab world and Arab people, that it is hard to know if this distorted reality will ever be broken and the truth about this rich Arab culture will be realistically represented. The other most common stereotype about Arab people concerns the women. As a woman, it truly is agonizing to see other strong women being so misrepresented throughout the world. Once again, in his book, Joris Luyendijk expressed another aspect of misrepresentation in the Arab world. In his travels as a reporter, Joris had not sooner realized that not only was the media changing people’s perspectives, but he was as well, “Most disturbing was the way I’d misrepresented women in my articles” (Luyendijk). For some reason, society had gone so far as to stereotype women in one way, but