Stereotypes and Discrimination

Imagine being seated in an airplane across from a pair of dark skinned men wearing turbans. Would you feel comfortable in that position? Most U.S. citizens would probably say no. In one instance, shortly after the events of September 11 terrorism, a trio of Arabic men was forced to exit a Northwest Airlines aircraft in Minnesota after several passengers on the plane insisted they be removed. All three men had cleared security but apparently that wasn't good enough. The inconvenience they had suffered was a direct result of the fear that developed from a stereotype. In your term paper, you may list many other situations in which stereotyping occurs. Today it is perceived that a person of a minority race poses more of a threat than a Caucasian. Studies have shown that the majority of crimes in the nation over the past several decades were committed by those of a minority ethnic group, and the most common of those offenses were theft and burglary. People often steal when they are desperate for money, food, or other necessities which they cannot provide for themselves. This can be directly related to racial discrimination in the workplace, which leaves minorities out of jobs and consequently out of money.

So is there a positive side to this type of conduct? If the percentage of crime among the likes of terrorism declines, and the threat of attack from inside our own borders decreases, then maybe singling out individuals at the expense of their discomfort is worth the imposition after all. But rather than simply choosing people with certain characteristics to search, perhaps airport security should search everyone as vividly. Avoiding uneasiness in the business world is a vital aspect to any successful establishment, as not having to deal with racial issues provides employees with fewer worries and generates greater production. The same people being put down because of stereotypes do not wish to be harmed or be part of a distraction to others, they just wish to be treated equally and share the same basic rights. When working on your essay, you will see that situations have improved over the past two hundred years or so, as slavery has ended and African-Americans along with women have gained the right to vote. Slowly but steadily, America is developing into a more accepting culture. It would be nice to think that everyone could just get along, but that day will never come. The stereotypical issues that we are faced with today are the same ones we've seen in the past, and we shall continue to see them as long as society exists. Although we cannot control people's thoughts about others, we can limit their actions.