STEREOTYPICALLY SPEAKING...

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A "STEREOTYPE" is a generalization about a person or group of persons. We develop stereotypes when we are unable or unwilling to obtain all of the information we would need to make fair judgments about people or situations. In the absence of the "TOTAL PICTURE," stereotypes in many cases allow us to "FILL IN THE BLANKS." Our society often innocently creates and perpetuates stereotypes, but these stereotypes often lead to unfair discrimination and persecution when the stereotype is unfavorable.

When we judge people and groups based on our prejudices and stereotypes and treat them differently, we are engaging in discrimination. This discrimination can take many forms. We may create subtle or overt pressures which will discourage persons of certain minority groups from living in a neighborhood. Women and minorities have been victimized by discrimination in employment, education, and social services. We may shy away from people with a history of mental illness because we are afraid they may harm us. Women and minorities are often excluded from high positions in the business world. Many clubs have restrictive membership policies which do not permit Jews, African-Americans, women, and others to join. Yet despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary, there are people who maintain that their own race is superior to all others. These people, known collectively as "racists," are the most likely to engage in discrimination, persecution, and violence against those they deem to be members of "inferior" races.

The concept of equal rights for women is as old as the ancient Greeks; the Greek philosopher Plato advocated for equality between the sexes in his Republic. Few civilizations have even approached this equality, however, and it has only been in modern times that women have been granted legal rights which were routinely applied only to men. Actual equality in society has lagged far behind legal emancipation, many believe. Although sexual discrimination remains a problem at all levels of society, women have risen to leadership positions in government, business, and the professions, but not to the same degree as their male counterparts. Women have run for President (Rep. Shirley Chisholm in 1972) and have been nominated on the ticket of a national party (Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro in 1984). Here in the Bahamas we had our very first Deputy Female Prime Minister and in America we see Senator Hillary Clinton throwing her hat in the ring for a chance to destroy that stereotype.

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I'VE MENTION A FEW STEREOTYPICAL THINGS WITHIN OUR SOCIETY, MY PURPOSE IS TO GET YOU GUYS THINKING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT I MENTIONED. SO TELL ME WOT R YRS?