I'm sure that there will always be prejudice to some degree; the all-to-human sins of envy, schadenfreude, and suspicion of people that are a bit different will tend to persist and perhaps metastasize into new malingnant forms. Likewise stereotypes, the social cognition process of rushing to judgment about people or groups. However, some of the more obvious and salient ones have been at least placed on the defensive. I'm sure that people will continue to use the N word or tell invidious ethnic jokes; but by doing show, they are following a pattern equivalent to not regularly showering or using deodorant: they self-handicap themselves by presenting themselves as insensitive morons. [Sorry, no offense to morons.]
However, there are three areas that are still free of social sanctions for those forms of sloppy thinking or social behavior: occupational, recreational, and residential or place of origin stereotypes. Yes, used car salesmen can be scrupulously ethical, golfers can be teetotalers, and Southerners seem to be about as smart or stupid as people elsewhere. So, what causes these to persist?
One reason is that people may give more notice to information supportive of the stereotype. Blondes sometimes are dumb, just like brunettes. But, as a result of the stereotype, the dumb blonde garners more notice, while the smart blonde does not evoke a re-formulation of the stereotype. The dumb brunette gets overlooked; while the smart brunette lives up to the stereotype. Another reason is that information contrary to the stereotype may be discounted due to laziness or other factors. There's a cognitive inertia going on.
And imagination regarding hair color plays a part. For example, a recent German study by Hamburg Professor Dr Werner Habermehl looked at the sex lives of hundreds of German women and compared them with their hair color. He reported that women with red hair were more sexually active than those with other hair color, with more partners and having sex more often than the average.
(Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-400779/Redheads-sex-blondes-brunettes.html#ixzz1mT00FLAJ)
There might be an atavistic distrust of redheads because of this alleged passionate nature, as seen as gingerism in Britain and even the Facebook page that tried to establish a National Kick a Ginger Day.
We ourselves may not be completely rid of our unique stereotypes and prejudices; but we should be on the lookout for this kind of thinking and challenge the premises underlying them. Mandy might be really smart!
However, there are three areas that are still free of social sanctions for those forms of sloppy thinking or social behavior: occupational, recreational, and residential or place of origin stereotypes. Yes, used car salesmen can be scrupulously ethical, golfers can be teetotalers, and Southerners seem to be about as smart or stupid as people elsewhere. So, what causes these to persist?
One reason is that people may give more notice to information supportive of the stereotype. Blondes sometimes are dumb, just like brunettes. But, as a result of the stereotype, the dumb blonde garners more notice, while the smart blonde does not evoke a re-formulation of the stereotype. The dumb brunette gets overlooked; while the smart brunette lives up to the stereotype. Another reason is that information contrary to the stereotype may be discounted due to laziness or other factors. There's a cognitive inertia going on.
And imagination regarding hair color plays a part. For example, a recent German study by Hamburg Professor Dr Werner Habermehl looked at the sex lives of hundreds of German women and compared them with their hair color. He reported that women with red hair were more sexually active than those with other hair color, with more partners and having sex more often than the average.
(Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-400779/Redheads-sex-blondes-brunettes.html#ixzz1mT00FLAJ)
There might be an atavistic distrust of redheads because of this alleged passionate nature, as seen as gingerism in Britain and even the Facebook page that tried to establish a National Kick a Ginger Day.
We ourselves may not be completely rid of our unique stereotypes and prejudices; but we should be on the lookout for this kind of thinking and challenge the premises underlying them. Mandy might be really smart!
12 comments:
So, basically, people pay mre attention to information hat confirms their beliefs or prejudices than those that run counter?
Golfers can be teetotalers? Then why do they golf?
Grand Crapaud's observation is entirely correct, which is why people at the extremes of the liberal and conservative movements are so fanatically rigid in their beliefs. I would also make two observations, as one who is both married to a redhead and lived in Germany for many years: 1) I don't know where Prof Dr Habermehl found all those redheads he thinks are having more sex; and 2) It wasn't in Germany, because by my observation from living there, there are very few redheads living in Germany (as compared to blondes and brunettes). That having been said, I can only say that my personal experience has been ... um ... let's just say "grand."
I know several people that still use the N-word and mean it. It wouldn't do any good to try and correct them so we just try and not respond and go off on another subject. It takes the momentum out of their comments.
Mike offers a good solution to those people. They're not apt to follow rational arguements or appeal to moral persuasion.
Great article, evil one!
Why pick on Ginger? What about Scary, Sporty, Posh, and Baby?
They do: sometimes grossly so.
Masochism
People at the poliotical extremes also have a moralistic tone to their beliefs.
As for the GI though that the redhead gene was mostly in the Celtic fringe in Europe.
Nobody puts Baby in ther corner.
Yours seems to be the best approach.
I think that most people can see that prejudices based on hair colour are lame.
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