Reflections About Stereotyping

All over the years stereotypes have existed and will exist forever. Stereotyping itself is a natural process in which people and places are characterized. However, Negative stereotypes are absolutely rough. When talking about customs and the way people look, it does not harm anyone, while talking about people’s behavior, social troublemakers , and so on, it is a difficult mark to take off.

That is to say  Colombia which  is a clear example of overgeneralization caused by a negative stereotype that affect the Colombian people in many ways. Being Colombian and going to a foreign place is such a nightmare. We could be drug dealers, violent people, and maybe we are trying to set up a new drug cartel. We have to deal with those false characteristics because we went through really hard past situations that finally  left a mark on us. We all are not drug addicts, not even drug sellers, and we do not take violence as a sport. Those stereotypes very often make people discriminate us, and look Colombian people down.

Stereotyping is just an attempt to link everyone’s characteristics which is impossible. Some people could fit on some stereotypes, nevertheless not everyone does. Coping with it only requires being brave enough and letting people know by your own actions the real person you are. Categorization is not always worth it, and humankind is dynamic, we are constantly changing that is why stereotypes lack of reliability and validity.