Racial Stereotyping Research Paper

On a pleasant summer afternoon at the mall, a young girl and her mother strolled towards a young woman wearing a hijab. The child smiled and waved at the woman, who returned the gesture. However, upon noticing this, the young girl’s mother yanked her away, whispering loudly, “Don’t talk to terrorists” and casting a scathing glance at the poor woman, whose smile had dissipated into a hurt expression.

Although many don’t recognize it, racism and racial stereotyping have become commonplace in our society, witnessed and experienced daily by several. We may not consider how certain words or actions can harm others, but everything we say has a profound impact on someone’s life, just as a passerby 's callous comments hurt a friendly young woman. Our society has fallen into the trap of believing common stereotypes that, more often than not, are completely untrue. Racial stereotyping is a true indicator that we, as a society, are ignorant in regards to other cultures and neglect to contemplate how our actions can affect others.

We may not consider how certain words or actions can harm others, but everything we say has a profound impact on …show more content…
While it’s not something easy to fix, if we wish to live in a just, productive society, we must collectively move away from believing in or joking about stereotypes. The next time you hear someone use a racial stereotype, call them out on it and let them know why it’s harmful to our mindsets and to society. Pay more attention to what you say and believe, and reflect on your opinions towards different races. Remember that it’s our differences that make us who we truly are. After all, we’re all human beings, no matter where we live or what color our skin is, and we should treat each other