Are All Stereotypes Inherently Racist - Essay Example

Are All Stereotypes Inherently Racist? Introduction Racism and stereotype are among social concerns in contemporary society that started back in history. Hitler’s appalling justification of racism caused one of the historic human rights violations, the holocaust. Stereotyping among religious affiliations contributes to some of the greatest wars such as the Palestine-Israeli conflict. Israeli- Palestine relations remain tensed because of stereotype ideals maintained by the two conflicting states (Rachlevsky 1). Presently, racism still exists in civilized societies such as America and Britain. Stereotyping in contemporary films and comedies are is a great sociological concern, for example (Steve 1). Remarkably, both stereotyping and racism are social ills that every society must strive to address. Often, programs designed to address challenges of stereotyping always involve strategies to end racism. In some instances, people tend to address stereotyping and racism as two independent social concerns. In as much as stereotyping and racism are recognized as two distinct concerns, the two concepts are never inherent. Most acts of stereotyping are not instigated by racism. Not all stereotypes are inherently racists but they have a fundamental role in maintaining racism (Lentin 41) Racism as a social challenge Racism refers to any attitude or behavior that discriminates against a group while favoring another. It may also refer to institutional arrangements or legal provisions that place a particular race as dominant over another. There are different types of racism: attitudinal, ideological, individual or group and institutional racism. Attitudinal racism refers to general hatred of a group promoted by negative and discriminatory feelings. Attitudinal racism may be a consequence of bigotry that emanates from unjustified affiliation to a certain belief. Bigotry promotes attitudes in favor of an opinion that promotes negative attitude against a given group. The case of blacks’ segregation in America before 1960s was an example of attitudinal racism (Martinez 56). Negative attitudes for blacks, among whites, promoted racism and subsequent discrimination. Ideological racism results from opinions informed by ideologies that promote harsh stance against a particular race. Adolf Hitler’s hatred for Jews resulted from his harsh and discriminative Nazism ideologies. Attitudinal and ideological racism types may occur among individuals, among a particular community, or within an institution. Group racism includes the Klu Klu Klan of America south that maintains inherent hatred for blacks. Institutional racism includes laws that deter a particular race from participation. Laws that constrained blacks from voting in America before emancipation, for example, promoted institutional racism (Charles 50). Racism, of any type, results from assumption and improper justification of ideological stance. Assumptions that promote racism in any society are fallacious. Stereotyping as a social challenge Stereotyping results from pre-existing ideologies that define a concept and influence perception (Holmes and Brand 68). Every stereotype maintains unchallenged mindset, opinion, ideology or proposition that promotes supremacy and dominance. Political dominance, for example, may result from stereotyping. Stereotyping ideologies in early America, for example, promoted white supremacy. It silenced blacks’ rights before revolution. Desegregation of blacks in America’s history resulted from stereotyping. Most stereotypes tend to decline ideologies that promote rights of discriminated groups. Blackface stereotypes in America’s southern states tend to deny the reconstruction era, for example. They deny changes in current societies that favor individuals or groups segregated by acts of stereotyping. Stereotyping may cause social identity threats for victims of prejudice (Nelson 153). Debating Racism and Stereotyping Nexus Racism is a social challenge mostly inherited across generations. Children, at young age, have uninterrupted opinions and ideologies that are free from racist thoughts. However, their mindsets transform because of the society’s influence. This raises concerns over the relationship between the two concepts, racism and stereotyping. The difference between racism and stereotyping is a contentious topic of debate. There is a divide in opinion about the relationship between racism and stereotyping. Proponents of the debate highlight several justifications to prove the relationship between racism and stereotyping. According to proponents, dismissal of an individual or a groups based on racism connotes stereotype notions. Labeling an individual based on skin color, for instance, is a racist act. It is discriminatory against the individual that may cause psychological stress and other related negative implications. Mere assumption that labeling an individual based on color (which is a racist act) does not emanate from stereotyping, is not convincing. Labeling, therefore, is a racist act and a form of prejudice instigated by stereotype ideologies. Opponents of the debate maintain a viewpoint that stereotyping is merely results from misconception about the ideals of an idea or ideology. Once a group misunderstands an idea, individuals tend to stereotype. Lack of comprehensive understanding of a particular culture by a group of people may cause stereotyping but not necessarily racism. Opponents maintain that stereotypes tend to make assumptions that affect their viewpoints. Assumptions, however, do not connote racist ideals. Proponents, however, decline to admit that misunderstanding of concepts and ideals such as culture of religion is the sole cause of stereotyping. They disapprove the concept that stereotyping is a mere result of generalization. Instead, proponents relate stereotyping to actions instigated by cause and intent. According to opponents, stereotypes merely refer to assumptions informed by common knowledge and falsified ideals. People, in most instances, develop stereotypes because of bias and misconception. Bias and misconception do not prove attitudinal, ideological, group or institutional racism. According to opponents, the cause of stereotyping is simple misunderstanding of a concept but not inherent racism. Misunderstanding and misconception may result from a single incidence but not necessarily because of racist viewpoints. According to Hunston and Oakey (136), cultural chauvinistic argument suggests stereotypes that cannot be measures against what all people think about the subject. Cultural chauvinistic stereotypes may only result from personal opinions based on misunderstanding of a culture. Racism, therefore, is not the sole cause of stereotype. Cultural chauvinism may cause be a cause of stereotype, as well. Opponents of the debate also highlight differences that exist between racism and stereotyping. The greatest difference between racism and stereotyping is that racism is a conduct condemned by law. Racism is unlawful in most societies, contrary to stereotyping. Racist acts are punishable under laws enacted in most societies. Stereotyping, however, may refer to the character of an individual. Racism does not include an individual’s general behavior. However, according to proponents racism is a cause of stereotyping. Opponents of the debate highlight examples of positive stereotypes as opposed to racism that is always negative. Although there are negative or racial stereotypes, there are positive stereotypes, as well. Negative stereotypes include perceptions that women are little concerned of other issues apart from physical appearance. Racial stereotypes such as the belief that Islam religion promotes terrorism also exist. However, there are positive stereotype. Some people, for example, associate blacks in America to great talent and superb competence in basketball. Positive stereotypes, according to opponents cannot be instigated by negativity always associated with racism. Stereotypes, therefore, are not necessarily racist because they may have positivity. Stereotypes may be personal viewpoints and concerns that accounts for self-reports rather than the perception of an entire community or group (Kurylo 17). To counter this argument, proponents highlight instances when racism is a perception of an entire group or community rather than self-reports by individuals. Racist ideologies in American history, for example, promoted prejudice among stereotyping (Spracklen 14). Racist ideologies in American’s south represented the thoughts of most whites. Segregation strategies among wamhite masters promoted by stereotype ideals were not individually held beliefs (Mafe 145). Addressing Racism and Stereotype Ideologies Admissibly, racism and stereotyping remain among the most serious social challenges in the contemporary society. Campaign against racism is not an easy strategy to achieve its goals. Historical injustices contribute to spread of prejudice, hatred, racism and stereotyping. Other social factors also instigate racism and stereotyping. The media can greatly contribute towards enhancing the struggle to attain a society that is free from racism and stereotype ideologies. Most governments have programs to address concerns of racist through anti-racism campaigns. Anti-racism campaigns in Britain are important to address related concerns such as negative stereotyping (Mark 108). The Australian government has programs aimed at attaining a society that is free from racist perceptions and ideologies. Canada is among the countries that boast of a multicultural society that is free from racism and stereotyping among citizens. Integration of blacks and whites in America is among the key efforts to promote a society that is free from racist acts and stereotype ideologies. Conclusion Stereotype ideologies and racism are serious social challenges. The relationship between racism and stereotype is a concern that attracts debate. While proponents attribute that all stereotypes are inherent racists, their viewpoints meet equal counter arguments from opponents. Among the overriding debate subjects is the question as to whether stereotype ideologies are an individual’s perceptions or representations of a community’s thoughts. While racism is explicitly illegal, stereotype ideals remain undefined in most legal frameworks. That promotes a debate on whether most governments consider stereotyping as an illegal act, though it has related social challenges. Based on the apparent debate, it is evident that not all stereotypes are inherently racists but they have a fundamental role in promoting racism. Works Cited Allen, Mark D. Anti-racism & Multiculturalism: Studies in International Communication. New Brunswick, N.J: Transaction Publishers, 2011. Print. Holmes, Malcolm and Brad W. Smith. Race and Police Brutality: Roots of an Urban Dilemma. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2008. Print. Hunston, Susan and Oakey, David. Introducing Applied Linguistics: Concepts and Skills. New York, NY: Routledge, 2009. Print. Kurylo, Anastacia. The Communicated Stereotype: From Celebrity Vilification to Everyday Talk. Lanham : Lexington Books, 2013. Print. Lentin, Alana, and Alana Lentin. Racism and Ethnic Discrimination. New York: Rosen Pub, 2011. Print. Mafe, Diana. Mixed Race Stereotypes in South African and American Literature: Coloring Outside the (black and White) Lines. Palgrave Macmillan, 2013. Print. Martinez, Roy. On Race and Racism in America: Confessions in Philosophy. University Park, Pa: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2010. Print. Nelson, Todd. Handbook of Prejudice, Stereotyping, and Discrimination. Psychology Press, 2009. Print. Rachlevsky, Sefi. Why Israel Needs Ben-Eliezer As Its Next President. Haaretz. Apr. 22, 2014. Web. Apr. 22, 2014. http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.586584 Spracklen, Karl. Whiteness and Leisure. Palgrave Macmillan, 2013. Print. Steve, Rose. Repressed Brits, evil Mexicans, Arab villains: why are Hollywoods animated movies full of racist stereotypes?. The Guardian. 6 April 2014. Web. Apr. 22, 2014. http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/apr/06/repressed-brits-evil-mexicans-arab-villains-hollywood-animated-movies-stereotypes Wilson, Charles. South and the Caribbean. Jackson: Univ Pr Of Mississippi, 2007. Print. Read More