The Importance of Knowing the Whole Truth Before You Judge a Child
Have you ever viewed a child with a disability differently than a normal child? Did you do that because of a common stereotype? A stereotype by definition is a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image of a particular type of person or thing. It is commonly known as a generalization of a person or group, based on truths. Often stereotypes only contain some truth, and are exaggerated. A misconception is a view or opinion that is incorrect because it is based on faulty thinking or understanding. Misconceptions come from assumptions and false information. We have stereotypes because a small amount of people in that group are in fact the way people perceive them. Although the …show more content…
Every labeled group or persons has them and those are usually very well known. Stereotypes and misconceptions are in fact different from each other. Stereotypes are based on truths, but not the entire belief is truth. Misconceptions are not based on any truth and are entirely false. According to Matthew Arnold Stern, there are three components to a stereotype: oversimplification, applying behaviors of some to the whole group, and outright lies. Stern says, “When we oversimplify how we describe someone, we strip them of their humanity.” He goes on to further explain that generalizing people as groups and not acknowledging them as individuals is where the mistake is made, and therefore how stereotypes come about. Stern touches on the outright lies about stereotypes, or misconceptions and refers to them as, “the stereotypes that do the most …show more content…
Layne has Marfan Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. Her condition leaves her heart greatly affected and she has been on medication since she was one year old. She requires echocardiograms at least three times a year to monitor the growth of her aorta and other valves. Layne will eventually have to have heart surgery to preventively replace her aortic valve. Layne also suffers from severe scoliosis and is considered to be legally blind because of her low vision. Due to her severe scoliosis, her back was curved immensely. Layne has had to have surgery every year since she was fifteen months old, and growing rods were placed along her spine to help correct her severe scoliosis. She has also underwent several surgeries on her eyes to attempt to correct her
Have you ever viewed a child with a disability differently than a normal child? Did you do that because of a common stereotype? A stereotype by definition is a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image of a particular type of person or thing. It is commonly known as a generalization of a person or group, based on truths. Often stereotypes only contain some truth, and are exaggerated. A misconception is a view or opinion that is incorrect because it is based on faulty thinking or understanding. Misconceptions come from assumptions and false information. We have stereotypes because a small amount of people in that group are in fact the way people perceive them. Although the …show more content…
Every labeled group or persons has them and those are usually very well known. Stereotypes and misconceptions are in fact different from each other. Stereotypes are based on truths, but not the entire belief is truth. Misconceptions are not based on any truth and are entirely false. According to Matthew Arnold Stern, there are three components to a stereotype: oversimplification, applying behaviors of some to the whole group, and outright lies. Stern says, “When we oversimplify how we describe someone, we strip them of their humanity.” He goes on to further explain that generalizing people as groups and not acknowledging them as individuals is where the mistake is made, and therefore how stereotypes come about. Stern touches on the outright lies about stereotypes, or misconceptions and refers to them as, “the stereotypes that do the most …show more content…
Layne has Marfan Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. Her condition leaves her heart greatly affected and she has been on medication since she was one year old. She requires echocardiograms at least three times a year to monitor the growth of her aorta and other valves. Layne will eventually have to have heart surgery to preventively replace her aortic valve. Layne also suffers from severe scoliosis and is considered to be legally blind because of her low vision. Due to her severe scoliosis, her back was curved immensely. Layne has had to have surgery every year since she was fifteen months old, and growing rods were placed along her spine to help correct her severe scoliosis. She has also underwent several surgeries on her eyes to attempt to correct her