Stereotype, Essay Example

What was the theme of “The Pixie Sketch”?

The Pixie Sketch specifically mandated a representation on how people view themselves based on their race and how they viewed others as well. Stereotyping as a result of racial differences have been proven one of the most crucial points of personal growth that an individual has to deal with. Being involved in a society that is more often than not strongly convinced that race is a source of recognizable identity makes it hard for people who have been born to a minor race to actually survive the challenge of being socially accepted. Individuals attending schools, work companies and other social institutions are often branded based on the race that they have come from. Even before they could speak, they are at once marked by the people around them and are tagged to have characteristics that “their people” are basically known for.

It is rather hard to live in a world where one is branded immediately even before they are given the chance to be known by the people they are involved with. In the pixie sketch, it was shown how classic stereotyping has placed several individuals in the society [the notable ones] to conform with the beliefs and the thoughts that the people had about them. It was as if they are already pre-judged even before they could open their mouth. In the entertainment industry, breaking the barriers of stereotyping has become a common theme of produced songs, dances and other genres of entertainment. White people doing stuffs that are usually done by black people and vice versa has been a source of social redefinition. Nevertheless, the stereotyping continues. Segregating the whites from the blacks as well as for people belonging to other minor races has become a common ground of social distinction.

Describe a situation in your life (either a major event or mundane situation) where you altered your behavior so as to prevent others from thinking you were conforming to a stereotype. If you have a good example of this happening to someone you know, feel free to use that example.

There was a friend of mine who is a Korean studying in a regular college in the community. My friend was not that good in utilizing the English language. It was very common for her to pretend she is deaf-mute whenever she goes to the grocery store to buy something she needs at home. When I asked her about the reason behind such an attitude, she said she better pretend she is not able to speak because disabled individuals are better accepted than people of her kind. I told her this was an absurd observation, and then she has finally proven her point when I went to the grocery store with her and saw what she meant. When she spoke English to one of the crews, the crew did quite grin on her as if insulting her speech. When she went to the counter, she began acting like a deaf mute again and she was given extra attention and concern by the counter crew; peculiar yet all real.

On using humor as a tool to combat racism: How effective is it? What are some of the potential pitfalls of using humor in this way?

In this case, humor seems to a tool for escaping the more serious aspects of the results that are gained from the idea of social stereotyping. Instead of making a great deal out of the issue, comedians try to lighten the situation creating a specific idea that everything that is happening is but normal and should be accepted as such. Most likely, the desire is genuine. Nevertheless, the results are staggering as more people become subjected to hurtful comments and are expected to simply accept such stereotyping measures of reactions against them. As a result to this, monitories of the society become more insecure and the majorities even feel more superior hence giving birth to deeper results of social oppression. As a fact, some are hiding their feelings about the situation and are developing a deep sense of depression which strongly hurts their idea of being a person and the respect that they have for themselves.