Page 155 - (DK) Help Your Kids with Growing Up: A No-Nonsense Guide to Puberty and Adolescence

DISCRIMINATION 153

Stereotypes ALERT !
Stereotypes are oversimplified ideas that are often widely held about a person or Being self-aware
group of people. They stop people from seeing the real individual and can be very
damaging. Sometimes people don’t see how prevalent stereotypes are in society, • Acknowledge your own prejudices,
particularly in the media – even when they’re part of the group being stereotyped. even if you don’t act on them.
• Don’t make judgements about others,
Stereotypes reduce and always respect other people and
people to just a single the way they live their lives.
aspect of their identity.
• Think about how you would feel if you
were the victim of discrimination.
• Challenge stereotypes when you
witness or hear them.
• Let people know you support them if
they are being discriminated against.

◁ Confronting stereotypes
It’s easy to make simplified judgements
about a person when you don’t know
Stereotypes reinforce existing much about them.
systems of inequality and
promote prejudice.

Breaking the cycle GOOD T O KNO W
Learning about each other and the things we have in common, Privilege and prejudice
as well as actively seeking out as many perspectives as possible It’s possible for someone to experience prejudice
on an issue, helps everyone to avoid discriminating against others. because they are gay or from an ethnic minority,
but they may still be privileged because they
▽ Positive solutions are wealthy or able-bodied. Whatever type of
Individuals or organizations often exclude or disadvantage discrimination a person faces, their privileges
disabled people without realizing they are doing it. Talking don’t make it any easier to cope with.
to people about their needs makes society more inclusive.

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