When you look around either in class or at work, automatically you form an opinion about everyone based on their looks. You began to categorize them as a stereotype and think you know everything about them just by a glance.
As people, we are very visual people, some of us even learn better by using visuals. I rely on my eyes for almost everything in life, they are an aspect most people could not live comfortably without.
I knew stereotypes were something a lot of people did subconsciously, but after reading Visual Communication, Images with Messages, this article shed a light on how sometimes pictorial stereotypes end up shaping our minds.
In the article, it is explained that pictures can cause more of an effect than words when it comes to stereotypes. The pictures can leave more of a lasting impression and cause the viewers to think more often about the stereotype that is expressed through the image.
This can conclude the idea of “you believe what you see,” so if some version of a group of people, whether it be of Asians, Latinos or LGBTQ people in a photo. That idea and version will begin to stand out to you and become what you know because maybe you don’t know any better.
We all think we can control stereotyping, everyone could say “I would never do that” or “that would never be me” but surely at one point or another you’ve seen an image that wrongfully represented a group.
Yes, the photos of women cleaning while the man sits on the couch is stereotyping.
But, we as people, can begin to stop all the discrimination and judgment we develop.
In another article, How to Cross Your ‘Faultlines,’ I read about our faultlines, which expresses that we have to take these things that are typically stereotypes like race, gender, class, generation and geography and check our facts about them.
These are some of the most important details when reporting on topics, in How to Cross Your ‘Faultlines” it is expressed that these should be considered as second nature just like “who, what, where, when, why and how.”
Once we become aware of our faultlines we can begin to understand them more and reteach ourselves to view these traits differently.
The forming of stereotypes can be dramatic, they are all around us. But reporters and people can choose to stay educated and bring the goal of ending prejudice, racism and discrimination closer to reality.
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