Truth About Hate: exposing stereotypes

Class competition  Your goal is to be the first group to create a tower of cups  Tower must be at least three cups high  Each person must take turns adding cups to the tower

Class competition Your job is to identify the traitor in your group. Pay attention to verbal and non-verbal clues.

Class competition  Who is the traitor in your group?  What was that person doing that made you suspicious of them?

Why I lied to my students  There is no traitor!  Why did you think there was?  How did that thinking affect what you saw?

The dangers of suspicions  We need to avoid allowing our suspicions of others turn ugly.  If we believe someone is a danger to us, even benign gestures can be interpreted as threats. We then misinterpret actions.

Truth About Hate  stereotype- An exaggerated belief, image, or distorted truth about a person or a group; an overgeneralized statement of people with similar characteristics. An exaggerated belief, image, or distorted truth about a person or a group; an overgeneralized statement of people with similar characteristics.

Truth About Hate  prejudice- An opinion, pre-judgment, or attitude about a group or its individual members. An opinion, pre-judgment, or attitude about a group or its individual members.

Truth About Hate  discrimination- Behavior that treats people unequally because of their group membership; the act of doing something harmful to certain groups of people. Behavior that treats people unequally because of their group membership; the act of doing something harmful to certain groups of people.

Truth About Hate  What is the relationship between a stereotype, a prejudice, and discrimination?

Truth About Hate  Stereotyping often results from, and leads to, prejudice.  Prejudice can lead to discrimination and violence.

Truth About Hate Unchecked prejudice can initiate a continuum of actions:  discrimination  isolation  persecution  dehumanization & violence  genocide

Exploring Gender Stereotypes  What is a gender stereotype?  What does it mean to act like a man?  What does it mean to act ladylike?  Where do we learn these gender roles?

Exploring Gender Stereotypes  What putdowns are used when someone doesn’t fit the traditional gender role?  How do these stereotypes affect our relationship with others?

 A stereotype rigidly confirms the belief that if you are a woman or a man, you must perform these specific roles, and do them well.  This belief takes away our personal choices in determining our own interests and skills.  It discourages men from participating in “women’s work” and it restricts women from choosing roles that are traditionally “male”.

Exploring Gender Stereotypes  How would prescribing to the traditional gender roles and stereotypes correlate with violence in our society?  How might prescribing to these gender stereotypes increase the incidence of homophobia, sexual harassment, and dating violence in our society?

Shaping our perceptions  Be aware of how your beliefs are shaped  To mistrust someone because of stereotyping disrespects a person’s individuality.  Unexamined beliefs can have damaging consequences.  Be open-minded, question viewpoints, challenge perceptions.