I was wondering – does diversity bring us together or fall us apart? And unfortunately I think that usually it divides us. Sometimes we lean on stereotypes that we even don’t know we had. We tend to write stories in our heads about people based on what we know at first glance – nationality, gender, color of the skin, scarf on the head, clothes. We’ve been schooled in stereotypes and prejudices and sadly but they are in us. I think people unconsciously believe in stereotypes and judge people based on it because it’s comfortable and easy way to make a feeling that you have a knowledge about the people and it’s also time and energy-saving to use this ‘knowledge’ about particular types of people instead of getting to know each one.
People are afraid of unknown. It’s normal that we are looking for similarities, it makes people comfortable. But believe me, we should cross this line and not let stereotypes limit us. Try to make friendships that cause us break this stereotypes because diversity is beautiful and it can bring a lot of creative ideas even if it needs more effort.
It’s sad because most of the stereotypes are negative. Ok there are some exceptions – for example about all the polish girls being pretty! But basically, the most of the stereotypes I’ve heard about are negative. It can be really harming because we should judge people based on specific individuals characteristics not on the thing that you can’t choose like nationality or the color of the skin.
The future is in our hands and I really hope that somehow, with small steps we can make this world a better place. This world that is such a beautiful place. I truly love Mother Nature, Earth and People. But on the other hand this world that is, at the same time, such a terrifying place full of death, terror and people without feelings.
So, make one small step and walk toward your discomfort and break the stereotypes. Stop making stories about all the Muslim people being terrorists, all the Arabic women being opressed, all the Sicilians being mafia, all the Polish people eating cereals with vodka for breakfast and many more. Because you really know nothing about this people and their stories until you meet them and talk to them.
