Diversity Education & Cultural Research Resources: Stereotypes & Race

The less you know about something, the more your mind has to guess.

Guesses are often based on prior experience, or other people's stories.

Prior experience may be so limited that it is not an accurate indicator of future interactions.

Stories are often distorted for entertainment.

Theoretically, stereotypes should be replaced with actual knowledge.  Realistically, stereotypes are seldom challenged unless something happens to create a reason to change the initial assumption.  Challenging stereotypes is hard work.

• Age
• Caste
• Disability
• Language
• Name
• Nationality
• Race or ethnicity
• Region
• Religious beliefs
• Sex, sex characteristics, gender, and gender identity
• Sexual orientation
• Reverse discrimination