Communication between people may be predetermined by a variety of means, and the role of stereotypes is crucial indeed. People are eager to use their prior knowledge about different ethnic groups to be ready for communicating, still, the impact of stereotypes cannot be pure negative or pure positive, and this is why it is always interesting and educative to focus on stereotypes and their role in interpersonal communication. Each group of people has its own characteristics. It is necessary to consider the main issues about different groups.
European Americans
- White people
- Variety of languages
- A number of privileges
- Wealthy men
- Slender women and men
- Well-educated people
African Americans
- Aggressive
- Loud and fat women
- Many kids in one family
- Criminals
- Mean men
- Good at sports
- Fun
- Spiritual male and female
Latinos
- Expended families
- Hard working
- Dangerous for people around
- Difficulties with speaking English
- Illegal immigrants
Asian Americans
- Model minority
- Disrespect to women from the men’s side
- Men are dangerous for white women
- Sexuality of women
- Attention to personal appearance
- Respect to native land
Native Americans
- Nature lovers
- Abilities to track and hunt successfully
- Respect to native land
- Traditions
- Thanksgiving Day
Middle Eastern Americans
- Variety of religion
- Revenge
- Devotion to native land, families, and personal opinions
- Terrorism
- Cruelty
These characteristics are taken from the movies and news: multicultural films help to underline the peculiarities of different ethnic groups and describe them from a variety of ways (Welsch and Adams xiii). I think I know a lot about Middle Eastern Americans or Latinos as I watch movies and follow the news. However, I have never met these people in my life, and this is why my knowledge may be prejudiced a lot.
It is hard to understand whether the chosen descriptions are accurate or not as all of them are based on general opinions or some particular cases. It is wrong to define all representatives of the particular ethnic group according to the activities made by some people; this is why, in spite of the fact that the above-mentioned data is properly evaluated and analyzed, it can be hardly defined as accurate.
People find it necessary to build stereotypes due to a variety of cultural preferences existing. As a rule, stereotypes are used in the process of communication or some writing activities to create more or less proper image of a person with different cultural preferences. Sometimes, these stereotypes may be fair and sometimes the stereotypes seem to be prejudiced and wrongly formulated.
Some of the above-mentioned stereotypes may interfere with communication in a variety of ways. On the one hand, people rely on their background knowledge to predict the situation and the outcomes, and this is why the success of communication is predetermined. On the other hand, people may benefit from a kind of awareness about possible unpleasant facts, tone, or manner of speech. They understand what should be better said and what should be avoided in communication.
Talking about personal experience, it is hard to create a clear picture. The point is that I do not find it obligatory to belong to one particular ethnic group. People are free to choose friends and companies, and stereotypes should never interfere with human life as each case is unique, and it is wrong to believe that the characteristics of the group may be inherent to each its member.
Bibliography
Welsch, Janice, R. and Adams, J.Q. Multicultural films: A reference guide. Westport: Greenwood Publishing, 2005.