Lesson 2 Assignment

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Fay Mattson EGCC- Race and Minority Groups - SOC203_4000 Instructor: Shanee Harris-May, LMSW-C October 28, 2023
Everybody is unique in their beliefs, backgrounds, skills, looks, and other characteristics. On the other hand, bias, discrimination, and stereotyping are more likely to affect individuals and groups. A group of people who share certain traits also share other traits is said to be a stereotype. Stated differently, it occurs when someone assumes about you based on a single aspect of your identity. When someone forms a belief—usually a negative one—about an individual or group, it is called prejudice. The belief is typically predicated on an individual's actual or presumed membership in a certain group. Stereotypes can also be used by prejudice to divide individuals. When someone behaves discriminatorily, it is a result of their biased beliefs. Systemic factors, such as the procedures and policies implemented for assimilation, can also be present. As a result, prejudice can have a long-lasting, damaging effect on individuals, groups, and communities. The impact of prejudice is like that of a snowball rolling downhill - it gains momentum as it grows in size and strength, and eventually, it can cause an avalanche of destruction. There are so many situations that come to mind. Looking back, I can say that it was stereotypical. Like seeing an overweight woman who is in her prime and thinking she might be pregnant. Another situation that I would have met would have been when I lived in South Dakota with my family. My father was part of the older generation. He is in his Mid-70s now. I would say this was around the year 1995. My family and I occasionally went out on a Sunday after church. On this rare occasion, we went to Pizza Hut. It was a special treat to have that occurrence. Everybody was getting along; nothing was really going on and I got to choose the place we ate. Being dressed in our 1990s best church outfits, my dad's consisted of dark black pants, a button-up plain dress shirt and the best part, suspenders. My dad, however, was a very gruffy, hairy man, so he also had a well-trimmed beard. As I mentioned, everything was going
fine until we went in to be seated. It was just three of us. And other people that had come after had been seated before us. I remember my father getting terribly upset because it took forever for us to be seated and we had been waiting a long time. A little back story about the geographical region as well. In that area particularly, there were Hutterites [ CITATION Hut \l 1033 ]. They are remarkably like Amish and Mennonites. Due to the similar attire, my father was wearing that mimicked a male Hutterites wardrobe he had assumed that was the cause of the delay with being seated. Looking back now and me being in my early forties, I can say that my dad should not have assumed. However, on the food host side there should have been no reason as to why it took that long for three people to be seated. Especially, with all the open seats and it was a busy Sunday and others were getting seated, and my dad felt we were getting overlooked. My dad did in fact look like a Hutterite. He should not have been stereotyped as such. People are people no matter Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Religion.
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