Individuals have the instinctive desire to label their peers to make themselves feel more superior or safe whether or not it is intentional; this is when stereotypes and misconceptions come into play. Society has grouped certain people with similar characteristics to simplify communities or social hierarchies. Stereotypes allow people to connect with a person identified with a specific category, but this can progress to a misconception. Misconceptions are created from stereotypes, but they are based on opinions and false assumptions; they require gossip. Many groups of individuals have been distorted from rumors and mere talk; it is critical to shed light on the truth of these misunderstandings. Lesbians are a widely misunderstood community
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According to Simply Psychology, “By stereotyping we infer that a person has a whole range of characteristics and abilities that we assume all members of that group have. Stereotypes lead to social categorization, which is one of the reasons for prejudice attitudes (i.e. “them” and “us” mentality) which leads to in-groups and out-groups,” (“Stereotypes”). With all of this considered, stereotypes separate individuals; along with the many faults of the human race, misconceptions have been taken out of proportion and exaggerated, but these alone are not harmful. Misconceptions are not prejudice and do not include discrimination, both of these require some type of action or attitude. It is with the hate from the misunderstandings that cause conflict and controversy within various groups of individuals. Misconceptions all begin with assumptions and the lack of information pertaining to different groups. Referring Harvard University’s ABLConnect, “Misconceptions, inaccurate or incomplete ideas about a concept or a process, are common (Savion, 2009); indeed, they can arise in any discipline. Our theories about the world and everything in it are based on our experiences, which are woefully incomplete. Thus, we have a rather narrow basis from which to reason about why things work the way they do,” …show more content…
One common misconception of the members of this specific group is that being homosexual is a personal choice. Citing Vancouver Island University, “LGBT people come in as many different shapes, sizes and colours as do heterosexuals. Some LGBT people can be identified by stereotypical mannerisms and characteristics. However, many heterosexuals also display these same mannerisms and characteristics, such as that of the ‘tomboy’ or the ‘effeminate’ male,” (“Myth Busting: LGBT”, 12). This previous excerpt from this online article depicts the distinctiveness of each person; because girls desire to dress like a boy, because girls desire to act like a boy, does not mean that they are attracted to a certain gender, it is common for individuals who do not want to fit into societal norms. Stereotypes do not necessarily mean that they are legitimate. Referring back to what was previously explained, misconceptions are not based on truths, rather an opinion; stereotypes were intended to simplify groups. A negative misconception of lesbains that Vancouver Island University corrects in Myth Busting: LGTB Myths & Facts about sexual orientation being a choice is that, LGB (lesbian, gay, bisexual) individuals were aware of having same-sex feelings at an early age, if not early on, it evolved in their adolescent or adult years. The real choice is to either live
According to Simply Psychology, “By stereotyping we infer that a person has a whole range of characteristics and abilities that we assume all members of that group have. Stereotypes lead to social categorization, which is one of the reasons for prejudice attitudes (i.e. “them” and “us” mentality) which leads to in-groups and out-groups,” (“Stereotypes”). With all of this considered, stereotypes separate individuals; along with the many faults of the human race, misconceptions have been taken out of proportion and exaggerated, but these alone are not harmful. Misconceptions are not prejudice and do not include discrimination, both of these require some type of action or attitude. It is with the hate from the misunderstandings that cause conflict and controversy within various groups of individuals. Misconceptions all begin with assumptions and the lack of information pertaining to different groups. Referring Harvard University’s ABLConnect, “Misconceptions, inaccurate or incomplete ideas about a concept or a process, are common (Savion, 2009); indeed, they can arise in any discipline. Our theories about the world and everything in it are based on our experiences, which are woefully incomplete. Thus, we have a rather narrow basis from which to reason about why things work the way they do,” …show more content…
One common misconception of the members of this specific group is that being homosexual is a personal choice. Citing Vancouver Island University, “LGBT people come in as many different shapes, sizes and colours as do heterosexuals. Some LGBT people can be identified by stereotypical mannerisms and characteristics. However, many heterosexuals also display these same mannerisms and characteristics, such as that of the ‘tomboy’ or the ‘effeminate’ male,” (“Myth Busting: LGBT”, 12). This previous excerpt from this online article depicts the distinctiveness of each person; because girls desire to dress like a boy, because girls desire to act like a boy, does not mean that they are attracted to a certain gender, it is common for individuals who do not want to fit into societal norms. Stereotypes do not necessarily mean that they are legitimate. Referring back to what was previously explained, misconceptions are not based on truths, rather an opinion; stereotypes were intended to simplify groups. A negative misconception of lesbains that Vancouver Island University corrects in Myth Busting: LGTB Myths & Facts about sexual orientation being a choice is that, LGB (lesbian, gay, bisexual) individuals were aware of having same-sex feelings at an early age, if not early on, it evolved in their adolescent or adult years. The real choice is to either live