Is stereotyping racist or sexist?

blackredyellow

I watched "Up in the Air" a little while ago, and George Clooney's part about who to get behind at airports stuck with me...

Ryan Bingham: [on getting through airport security] Never get behind old people. Their bodies are littered with hidden metal and they never seem to appreciate how little time they have left. Bingo, Asians. They pack light, travel efficiently, and they have a thing for slip on shoes. Gotta love 'em.
Natalie Keener: That's racist.
Ryan Bingham: I'm like my mother, I stereotype. It's faster.


We all make simple decisions everyday based on stereotypes or past experiences... do those decisions make us racists or sexist of ageist?

A few examples:

I avoid getting behind middle aged women at the checkout because they are more likely to write checks or question prices, etc... I avoid black women as well, they are more apt to question things and take longer.

There is a decent-sized Indian population where I live... For some reason, a lot of the retail/grocery cashiers are Indian women. I try to go to their aisles because they are nice, don't waste time with small talk and are usually fast.

If I need a part to fix my sink at Home Depot, I'll ignore the college kid and look for a retired-aged guy who probably fixed a bunch of leaky faucets in his life.

When asking for directions, I usually ask guys, because women generally give directions using landmarks, and guys use street names/route numbers. I also avoid asking old people because I don't know "where the old K-Marts used to be"...

I get more irritated when I call a tech support line and get someone from India... It's bad enough talking to a low level customer service rep who's reading a script with no authority to change anything, but it's worse when they can't understand exactly what I am asking.

Blockhead

We live in a world where we expect everything to happen instantanious and patience or waiting is a thing of the past, This causes to us to sub-consciencely catorgize people and races so that we make sure everything remains instantanious. There is nothing wrong with going with someone you trust on fixing things is your house though IMO, Thats an expensive cost not to go with someone you feel comfortable with.

pandora

blackredyellow wrote:

I watched "Up in the Air" a little while ago, and George Clooney's part about who to get behind at airports stuck with me...

Ryan Bingham: [on getting through airport security] Never get behind old people. Their bodies are littered with hidden metal and they never seem to appreciate how little time they have left. Bingo, Asians. They pack light, travel efficiently, and they have a thing for slip on shoes. Gotta love 'em.
Natalie Keener: That's racist.
Ryan Bingham: I'm like my mother, I stereotype. It's faster.


We all make simple decisions everyday based on stereotypes or past experiences... do those decisions make us racists or sexist of ageist?

A few examples:

I avoid getting behind middle aged women at the checkout because they are more likely to write checks or question prices, etc... I avoid black women as well, they are more apt to question things and take longer.

There is a decent-sized Indian population where I live... For some reason, a lot of the retail/grocery cashiers are Indian women. I try to go to their aisles because they are nice, don't waste time with small talk and are usually fast.

If I need a part to fix my sink at Home Depot, I'll ignore the college kid and look for a retired-aged guy who probably fixed a bunch of leaky faucets in his life.

When asking for directions, I usually ask guys, because women generally give directions using landmarks, and guys use street names/route numbers. I also avoid asking old people because I don't know "where the old K-Marts used to be"...

I get more irritated when I call a tech support line and get someone from India... It's bad enough talking to a low level customer service rep who's reading a script with no authority to change anything, but it's worse when they can't understand exactly what I am asking.

I must not be in a hurry, I never look beyond just the shortest line. I trust in people and believe they will be able to help me whomever they are. I trust they are capable if they care, that being the key to helpfulness.
I don't think I stereotype, I'm trying to keep an open heart. Its good to fight the urge to judge and generalize. Life is better when you remember everyone is an individual, you miss so much if you don't. It's like walking through life with one eye closed, you miss the full beauty, the depth of beauty life has to offer.

Godfather.

pandora wrote:

blackredyellow wrote:

I watched "Up in the Air" a little while ago, and George Clooney's part about who to get behind at airports stuck with me...

Ryan Bingham: [on getting through airport security] Never get behind old people. Their bodies are littered with hidden metal and they never seem to appreciate how little time they have left. Bingo, Asians. They pack light, travel efficiently, and they have a thing for slip on shoes. Gotta love 'em.
Natalie Keener: That's racist.
Ryan Bingham: I'm like my mother, I stereotype. It's faster.


We all make simple decisions everyday based on stereotypes or past experiences... do those decisions make us racists or sexist of ageist?

A few examples:

I avoid getting behind middle aged women at the checkout because they are more likely to write checks or question prices, etc... I avoid black women as well, they are more apt to question things and take longer.

There is a decent-sized Indian population where I live... For some reason, a lot of the retail/grocery cashiers are Indian women. I try to go to their aisles because they are nice, don't waste time with small talk and are usually fast.

If I need a part to fix my sink at Home Depot, I'll ignore the college kid and look for a retired-aged guy who probably fixed a bunch of leaky faucets in his life.

When asking for directions, I usually ask guys, because women generally give directions using landmarks, and guys use street names/route numbers. I also avoid asking old people because I don't know "where the old K-Marts used to be"...

I get more irritated when I call a tech support line and get someone from India... It's bad enough talking to a low level customer service rep who's reading a script with no authority to change anything, but it's worse when they can't understand exactly what I am asking.

I must not be in a hurry, I never look beyond just the shortest line. I trust in people and believe they will be able to help me whomever they are. I trust they are capable if they care, that being the key to helpfulness.
I don't think I stereotype, I'm trying to keep an open heart. Its good to fight the urge to judge and generalize. Life is better when you remember everyone is an individual, you miss so much if you don't. It's like walking through life with one eye closed, you miss the full beauty, the depth of beauty life has to offer.

:thumbup:

Godfather.

_

I think stereotypes are prejudices which inhibit knowledge and provide good breeding ground for ignorance. I would say prejudice is the foundation of racism, sexism, etc. - but that doesn't mean all prejudice develops into those things. Therefore many, but not all, stereotypes are racist, sexist, etc. Or something like that.