The group I decided to use was Asians. If we look at the ads we see them depicted as doctors, businessmen, and the intellects in school. Based upon this snapshot, one would simply put Asians in a category of brains and success. I mean we've all heard the stereotype of Asians being super smart, but according to this snapshot isn't it true and not a stereotype? In fact, is it simply snapshots like this that create that stereotype. I mean we could put white people in all of these but not blink an eye. In this snapshot, you don't see the leisure activities, home life, or other aspects besides school/work. In fact, we don't even see any representation of failures or struggles. This gives the simple assumption that there is only success. It's a one-sided story on a single aspect of one group of people. It is far better to look at a gallery than a single photo.
This is true! I had an Asian friend in high school who always told me she felt like she was under so much pressure because she was expected to be the most intelligent in the classroom. People have actually made the comment to her that she was a "defective Asian" when she didn't score well of whatever assignment.
ReplyDeleteHaley Tharp
I think that this type of stereotype is very harmful to Asian students in America. From a young age, society puts pressure on them to be smarter than other ethnicities and I think that by continuing to put images like this in the media we a harming students self esteem, and continuing to hold the minority as a whole to a very high standard.
ReplyDeleteThis made me think of one of my friends in high school. His parents were from China, but he was born here in the States. He was horrible at math and science and loved English and art. He often times got incredibly ticked off at others as they continually assumed he was a science and math prodigy.
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