Objectives

We will explore stereotypes, bias, and assumptions to

understand the danger of a single story.
During today’s
lesson please be
OPEN MINDED
 How do we judge others?
People often use labels or categories to describe others and how
these labels can be based on such characteristics as clothing, looks,
behaviors, family, the way a person talks, or the groups to which he
or she belongs.

Categorizing things or people is a natural human inclination;

however, people often make assumptions about groups of people
they don't even know.

Share: Can someone share an example of a label or category someone
placed on you?
 STOP & THINK

Think about a situation when someone made a

biased judgment about you or acted unfairly
toward you because of your age, skin color, clothes
you were wearing, gender, the way you speak,
where you live, how much money your family has,
or some other reason.


 Discussion

Share your story/situation in pairs then share to

the whole group.
●  How did you know that you were being unfairly judged?
●  What words or actions were directed at you because of assumptions or
stereotypes?
●  Why do you think those assumptions were made about you?
●  How did the experience make you feel?
●  How do you think you should have been treated in that situation?
 What is a Stereotype?

De=inition: A generalized picture of a person, created
without taking the whole person into account; to make such a
generalization.

Context: When we stereotype a group of people, we depict all
of the individuals within that group as having the same
characteristics.

 Way someone dresses/has their hair Latinos wearing
“Punk” “Nerd” “Emo” “Goth” etc. sombreros and eating
tacos or all Latinos are
“Mexican”

“Girls don’t play football/sports”

Young black boys in hoodies are “up to no good”

or a “thug”

Examples of Stereotypes
 Stereotypes are closely related to BIAS and
ASSUMPTIONS:
BIAS
ASSUMPTION
De=inition: Attitudes or behaviors
De=inition: An idea that is taken for
based on stereotypes of people.
granted but not necessarily proven.

Context: When we omit people of
color in our history lessons, we Context: Non-Asians often make the
display a bias that suggests that assumption that Asians are smart or
their contributions are not that all Latinos are illegal immigrants.
important.

Think: Can you think of an example of bias or assumption?

Many stereotypes may be based on race or ethnicity: What is
the difference between race and ethnicity?

Ethnicity Race
Definition: A categorization of people Definition: A categorization of people based
according to shared culture, language, or on shared biological traits such as skin color,
geographic region. hair texture, and eye shape.

Context: The terms "Mexican" and "Irish" Context: One function of the U.S. Census is to
count the citizens by race, which is categorized
describe two distinct ethnic groups. as Black, White, Latino, or Native American.

Think: What race and/or ethnicity do you identify yourself as?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWynJkN5HbQ
What does the quote mean to you?
Using the de=inition
of stereotype and
your personal
experiences, what
does this quote mean
to you?

Stereotype De=inition: A generalized
picture of a person, created without
taking the whole person into account;
to make such a generalization.
 Video: Danger of a Single Story
Watch the following video
https://www.ted.com/talks/
chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?
language=en

Using the deTinition of stereotypes/bias/assumptions and
your personal experiences...
-what is the message of the video?
-how can you connect it to your life?

Activity: Counteract Stereotypes
Activity:
Choose 1 stereotype/single story that someone
may assume about you.

Create a poster that counteracts that stereotype
with your truth/your story.

Example:

Stereotype: Athletes are not smart
Truth: On honor roll.

Stereotype: All latinos are Mexican.
Truth: I was born in United States, but my family
is from El Salvador.