Stereotypes>Racism

There was a lot to take in after reading Mark Snyder's "Self-Fulfulling Stereotypes". While racism is still prevalent in society I believe stereotyping is more wide spread and more disastrous. Stereotypes tend to be so low key people do it more often without realizing it and it has such potential it affects practically ever aspect of our lives. In schools, the workplace, parks, the mall, everywhere we go stereotyping is happening. Whether its against someone of a different race, or sex, even age; no one can escape its clutch.
Like Snyder says in his article, its something that can't be helped. The first thing we notice about someone their physical characteristics stand out first. And why wouldn't they, when people first meet its not like their personality is visible, so we go by what we first see; sex, race, etc. What I think makes stereotypes worst than racism is that a lot of racism is in your head. You wont straight out tell someone you think you're better than them because of their race, but you do act differently around them because of the stereotypes.
Snyder mentioned numerous experiments conducted that show how stereotypes affect many aspects of society. People are nicer and more sociable to those they believe to be attractive while not so much to those deemed unattractive. Everyday tasks like sharpening a knife are assigned to men while ironing a shirt is considered a woman's job. I could go on.
What makes it worst is our selective memory towards it all. You could meet the antithesis to a certain stereotype but before admitting that not everyone fits into a stereotype you go straight to calling them the exception to what is a "rule". And apparently stereotypes are highlighted in people, basically their most memorable characteristics aren't those that make them a unique individual, but the ones that group them in a stereotype. It's kind of sad that in these modern times when uniqueness is something that seems to be promoted, that things like these happen.
-adolfo