Prejudice And Stereotyping - Essay Example

One of the major stereotypes I frequently encounter in my daily life is the notion that women are weaker and more emotional than men. This stereotype has become so prominent that many individuals simply assume that it is factual. In terms of arguments that support this stereotype, it seems that many people believe that within the biological gender differences between man and woman are differences that make women more emotional. Oftentimes stereotypical notions of women on their periods are advanced, or images of women frequently crying at small things.

While this notion of woman as emotional might hold some observational truth for many individuals, it seems more accurate that this argument is erroneous. A counter-argument to this stereotype is the understanding that women may simply feel more empowered to act in more emotional ways than men because of these very stereotypes. In this context of understanding, men and women both hold the same biological feelings of emotion; society simply restricts men from acting in this way. Another understanding is that men may simply act emotional in different contexts, for instance when watching or participating in athletic events.

Another prominent stereotype I encounter in my daily life is the notion that illegal immigrants are taking jobs from regular citizens. There are a number of arguments that have been used to support this stereotype. Oftentimes people use observation to back their argument, talking about how they oftentimes witness Mexicans working on homes or in various other positions. Individuals examining the macro employment picture make another prominent argument in this context of understanding. In these regards, individuals see that the unemployment rate is very and recognize that illegal immigration is a regular occurrence and make the connection that these individuals have usurped jobs.

In reality, these arguments are off-base. While it is true that illegal immigrants oftentimes come to the United States and find employment, generally the jobs they assume are in areas where regular citizens are unwilling to work. Another understanding is that these individuals are oftentimes willing to work under conditions, such as low pay and long hours that regular citizens would never accept. Ultimately the notion that illegal immigration is a prominent cause of the high unemployment rate in the United States is an entirely off-based stereotype.

A third stereotype I encounter in my daily life is the belief that Asians are innately good at mathematical fields or technology. There are a number of arguments made in these regards. Oftentimes individuals observe Asian students that are successful in these areas and emphasize that Asians are thus good at math. Other individuals witness popular depictions of Asians in the media or hear reports of the success of Asian students in these areas and then extend this argument to the notion that all Asians are good at math.

Still, it seems highly unlikely that Asians are biologically better at math than other races. A counter argument in these regards is that Asian students are oftentimes from families whose main language is Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. With this understanding, they are placed at a learning disadvantage from an early age and thus tend more towards mathematics as a scholastic pursuit.