How to Eliminate Stereotype Threat

Aleena Haidari, staff writer 

        Do stereotypes have a positive or a negative connotation? Stereotypes are socially constructed perceptions about a particular group, religion, race, and gender.

Each group has at least one stereotype; however, the implications or severity of the stereotypes varies from one group to another. As many studies have demonstrated as well as argued by Toni Schamader, the author of Stereotype Threat: Theory, Process, and Application, that when stereotypes amplify, they would severely impact a group and could be considered as stereotype threat.  

Stereotype threat is defined as a threat or perception that is placed or imposed on a group which could potentially impact their race, religion, or sex, negatively.

During the talk, “Understanding and Coping with Stereotype Threat,” which was one in a series of One Book events, Associate Professor of Sociology Dr. Todd Platts explained studies and statistics that have demonstrated the adverse effects of negative stereotypes.

For instance, most schools that are situated in low-income neighborhoods have a high population of African Americans, Latinos, and other minority students.

This illustrates that stereotypes have elevated to an institutional level which hinders students performances due to a lack of adequate budget and attribution.

Many of these students live in poor neighborhoods and their schools don’t receive an adequate budget to properly prepare them in comparison to highly developed neighborhoods.

Therefore, it is essential to note that stereotypes have heightened to a point where students are being adversely impacted. 

Many other countries have carried out similar studies and they have shown similar findings. 

If you are someone who would like to eliminate stereotypes, then do not hesitate for there are many ways to consider eliminating stereotypes.

The easiest way to approach solving this issue is to understand and learn about the implications of stereotypes of affected groups.

By simply engaging in conversations or working with people that are different from you, you would gain invaluable experience from the affected people. 

Learning about others can be challenging if you have a firm belief in your perceptions of them; however, in order to eliminate stereotypes, adopt a growing mindset and allow yourself to be open to new information and new encounters.

These steps will allow you to be comfortable with others and understand things from their perspective.

Understanding others’ point of views does not promote rejection of your perspectives; it is a way to peacefully disagree.