Resources and Readings
Articles: (challenge level indicated by number of stars)
1 Are We Born Racist? Addicted to Stereotypes. (***) Read this Psychology Today article to find out WHY we stereotype others to begin with. Discover why our human thought process makes it so "convenient" for us to lump people together. Click here to see the original (longer) article version.
2 Generation Z Teens Stereotyped as "Lazy and Unaware". (**) Read this article to learn about how your whole generation may be negatively stereotyped, and explore the possible truths and myths behind this stereotype.
3. When Missouri Football Players Join Protest, A President Resigns (**) Read this article to learn about the recent strike on the University of Missouri's campus and the steps Missouri Football players took to decrease racism on their campus.
4. Major New Study Shatters Stereotypes About Teens and Video Games. (**) Read this article to understand the stereotypes and myths about teens who play video games -- and what surprising myth busters this study reveals.
5. Stereotypes and Prejudices. (****) Read this article to learn what a stereotype is, how stereotyping can lead to discrimination and racism, and how minority persecution can even lead to genocide. (From Remember.org, A People's History of the Holocaust & Genocide.)
6. U.S. Resistance to Syrian Refugees Sparks Comparisons to WWII Jews' Plight (**) Read this article to learn about similarities between Jews attempting to escape the Nazi regime in WWII and Syrians attempting to flee ISIS today, and consider the role that stereotypes play in this current issue.
7. Out of Bounds. (**) Read this article about to learn what happened when one high school rivalry went too far, unleashing stereotypes that ended in violence. Find out how school climate can either make or break stereotypes that cause physical violence.
8. Give Bigotry No Sanction. (***) Read this article to learn about the causes and effects of religious intolerance throughout our country's history. Uncover how our forefathers, including George Washington himself, envisioned a country that would "give bigotry no sanction."
9. Global Connections. Stereotypes. (***) Read this article to uncover the misperceptions and stereotypes that Westerners hold about Islam and the Middle East, and vice versa.
10. Shattering Stereotypes About Immigrant Workers. (***) In this article, you'll explore the perceptions and misperceptions about immigrant workers that impact how they are treated.
11. Understanding the American Indian Mascot Issue (***) Read to learn about why names and images of Native Americans are being removed from sports teams.
12. Lawmakers, Republican Candidates Split Over Confederate Flag Display (**) Read to learn about the controversy over a flag that symbolizes a heritage or culture to some and racism or oppression to others.
13. Disney Movies Promote "Beautiful as Good" Stereotype. (**) Learn in this article how Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Belle all contribute to this surprising stereotype.
14. Finding a Stereotype That is True: Mexicans More Sociable Than Americans. (**) This article will help you understand interesting and real cultural differences, differences which we often use to label people in more limited, negative ways -- as stereotypes.
15. Insult or Honor? (**) Hundreds of schools and pro sports teams have Indian mascots and names. However, many people believe these team "identities" are racist. Read this to learn why and to understand both sides of this controversy.
16. Obama Tackles Toy Gender Stereotypes. (**) This article and video show President Obama questioning gender stereotypes when it comes to selecting toys for children.
17. The Effects of Stereotyping Teenagers. (*) Read this quick article to learn how teens are often stereotyped, and understand how such limited perceptions affect people.
18. Yes, She's Mine and No, She's Not Tan—She's Ethnic. (*) What assumptions do people make when kids do not look like their parents? This article explores how mixed-heritage families deal with public misperceptions.
Videos:
1 Souls of our Students. Watch this documentary video, featuring students who speak about being different and about the impact of stereotyping.
2. Guess Who? Watch this video about the assumptions kids make about gender and profession.
3. Human: Rethink Homelessness Orlando Watch this video about the perceptions people have about homelessness and the reality of many's situations.
4. Just Like You: Understanding Down Syndrome Watch this video to learn about people with down syndrome and how they are impacted by stereotyping.
5. Football Really Changed My Life Watch this video about the Singapore cerebral palsy soccer team who breaks stereotypes about people with disabilities in sports.
6. Cracking the Codes: Joy DeGruy "A Trip to the Grocery Store" Watch this video about the ways two women are treated differently at the grocery store and how one of the woman is able to stand up against stereotyping and racism.
7. Progressive Issues in Campaign 2016. Conversation between a black leader and a white man who honestly asks how to overcome his prejudice against black people.
Podcasts:
1 On Hicksploitation and Other White Stereotypes Seen on TV. Read and listen to this radio podcast about stereotyping on reality TV.
2 Stereotypes Shape Our Perceptions and Ourselves. Read and listen to this author interview to learn about "stereotype threats" and how to overcome them.
3 Disappointing "Redneck" TV Shortchanges The American South. Read and listen to this podcast about how reality TV stereotypes the South and learn what is lost as a result.
Personal Essays
1. A Stereotypical Teenager? A Teen Essay on Discrimination. One boy speaks out in a personal essay published in Teen Ink. He writes about how people stereotype him negatively as a teenager, and he explores how such attitudes impact everyone.
Poems:
1. Guidelines. (**) This poem is playful and friendly. It explores what it feels like to be an outsider and offers clever ways to handle the sometimes-rude interpretations people might have of us. You can read it WHILE YOU enjoy listening to it on the podcast.
2. Puzzlement. (*) A short poem about identity and perception by Gwendolyn Brooks.
1 Are We Born Racist? Addicted to Stereotypes. (***) Read this Psychology Today article to find out WHY we stereotype others to begin with. Discover why our human thought process makes it so "convenient" for us to lump people together. Click here to see the original (longer) article version.
2 Generation Z Teens Stereotyped as "Lazy and Unaware". (**) Read this article to learn about how your whole generation may be negatively stereotyped, and explore the possible truths and myths behind this stereotype.
3. When Missouri Football Players Join Protest, A President Resigns (**) Read this article to learn about the recent strike on the University of Missouri's campus and the steps Missouri Football players took to decrease racism on their campus.
4. Major New Study Shatters Stereotypes About Teens and Video Games. (**) Read this article to understand the stereotypes and myths about teens who play video games -- and what surprising myth busters this study reveals.
5. Stereotypes and Prejudices. (****) Read this article to learn what a stereotype is, how stereotyping can lead to discrimination and racism, and how minority persecution can even lead to genocide. (From Remember.org, A People's History of the Holocaust & Genocide.)
6. U.S. Resistance to Syrian Refugees Sparks Comparisons to WWII Jews' Plight (**) Read this article to learn about similarities between Jews attempting to escape the Nazi regime in WWII and Syrians attempting to flee ISIS today, and consider the role that stereotypes play in this current issue.
7. Out of Bounds. (**) Read this article about to learn what happened when one high school rivalry went too far, unleashing stereotypes that ended in violence. Find out how school climate can either make or break stereotypes that cause physical violence.
8. Give Bigotry No Sanction. (***) Read this article to learn about the causes and effects of religious intolerance throughout our country's history. Uncover how our forefathers, including George Washington himself, envisioned a country that would "give bigotry no sanction."
9. Global Connections. Stereotypes. (***) Read this article to uncover the misperceptions and stereotypes that Westerners hold about Islam and the Middle East, and vice versa.
10. Shattering Stereotypes About Immigrant Workers. (***) In this article, you'll explore the perceptions and misperceptions about immigrant workers that impact how they are treated.
11. Understanding the American Indian Mascot Issue (***) Read to learn about why names and images of Native Americans are being removed from sports teams.
12. Lawmakers, Republican Candidates Split Over Confederate Flag Display (**) Read to learn about the controversy over a flag that symbolizes a heritage or culture to some and racism or oppression to others.
13. Disney Movies Promote "Beautiful as Good" Stereotype. (**) Learn in this article how Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Belle all contribute to this surprising stereotype.
14. Finding a Stereotype That is True: Mexicans More Sociable Than Americans. (**) This article will help you understand interesting and real cultural differences, differences which we often use to label people in more limited, negative ways -- as stereotypes.
15. Insult or Honor? (**) Hundreds of schools and pro sports teams have Indian mascots and names. However, many people believe these team "identities" are racist. Read this to learn why and to understand both sides of this controversy.
16. Obama Tackles Toy Gender Stereotypes. (**) This article and video show President Obama questioning gender stereotypes when it comes to selecting toys for children.
17. The Effects of Stereotyping Teenagers. (*) Read this quick article to learn how teens are often stereotyped, and understand how such limited perceptions affect people.
18. Yes, She's Mine and No, She's Not Tan—She's Ethnic. (*) What assumptions do people make when kids do not look like their parents? This article explores how mixed-heritage families deal with public misperceptions.
Videos:
1 Souls of our Students. Watch this documentary video, featuring students who speak about being different and about the impact of stereotyping.
2. Guess Who? Watch this video about the assumptions kids make about gender and profession.
3. Human: Rethink Homelessness Orlando Watch this video about the perceptions people have about homelessness and the reality of many's situations.
4. Just Like You: Understanding Down Syndrome Watch this video to learn about people with down syndrome and how they are impacted by stereotyping.
5. Football Really Changed My Life Watch this video about the Singapore cerebral palsy soccer team who breaks stereotypes about people with disabilities in sports.
6. Cracking the Codes: Joy DeGruy "A Trip to the Grocery Store" Watch this video about the ways two women are treated differently at the grocery store and how one of the woman is able to stand up against stereotyping and racism.
7. Progressive Issues in Campaign 2016. Conversation between a black leader and a white man who honestly asks how to overcome his prejudice against black people.
Podcasts:
1 On Hicksploitation and Other White Stereotypes Seen on TV. Read and listen to this radio podcast about stereotyping on reality TV.
2 Stereotypes Shape Our Perceptions and Ourselves. Read and listen to this author interview to learn about "stereotype threats" and how to overcome them.
3 Disappointing "Redneck" TV Shortchanges The American South. Read and listen to this podcast about how reality TV stereotypes the South and learn what is lost as a result.
Personal Essays
1. A Stereotypical Teenager? A Teen Essay on Discrimination. One boy speaks out in a personal essay published in Teen Ink. He writes about how people stereotype him negatively as a teenager, and he explores how such attitudes impact everyone.
Poems:
1. Guidelines. (**) This poem is playful and friendly. It explores what it feels like to be an outsider and offers clever ways to handle the sometimes-rude interpretations people might have of us. You can read it WHILE YOU enjoy listening to it on the podcast.
2. Puzzlement. (*) A short poem about identity and perception by Gwendolyn Brooks.