Stereotypes

                On my way home from school, I drove past a biker coming onto the interstate. He was dressed in leather from head to toe, had a mid-sized beard, and was driving a black Harley motorcycle decked out with saddlebags. From the parts of his body I could see, I saw a tattoo climbing up his neck. As I passed him he pulled out a long, white cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth. He then reached down into his saddlebag to pull out his lighter and proceeded to light his cigarette. I couldn't help but take notice of this perfect example of a biker stereotype.

                I found nothing abnormal or strange about him due to that stereotype. But if I were to go to my local physicians office for a check-up and this man walked in as my doctor, I feel like I wouldn't be able to help question his credentials.

                As I continued my drive home, I couldn't help but think about this man and my reaction to him. The way this man dressed had nothing to do with the man he actually was. For all I know he could be superman, or a lawyer, or the top surgeon in the state, and yet I am still not able to see past his biker-façade. Why do we have all of these stereotypes? I remember reading about stereotypes in my AP Psychology class last year. The book conducted a study that tested how well people relied on stereotypes. The study described the stereotype of a professor of literature and asked people whether it was a professor or a truck driver. Most people answered the professor, and it turns out that there was a lot higher percentage of that man being a truck driver.

                Thinking back to that biker, I can't help but feel the influence of the biker-stereotype. I know that under his disguise is a man like any other lawyer or surgeon out there, and for all I know he might be one. I guess my point is that stereotypes affect our judgment of people and cause us to make snap decisions about what they can do and how they act. If you have ever heard the phrase "never judge a book by its cover," it is made for situations like this. I had no right to decide on his characteristics or behavior before I had even seen him for more than ten seconds, and neither should anyone else of anyone else.