Steriotyping Appearence

Research Paper

Every single person who has ever lived has suffered from some sort of stereotyping. Stereotyping is the brain making assumptions about someone or something based solely on first impression or outward appearance. Whenever people meet, it is only natural to try and figure out what kind of person they are. The problem occurs when people take this experience too seriously and are not able to look past their assumptions. There is also a problem when the assumptions are not based on any liable fact. One of the most popular forms of stereotyping is based on appearance, and it can happen to anyone at all. People don’t care what they’re wearing, don’t want to spend money on the most fashionable wardrobe, just want to be comfortable, or want to express themselves through a different fashion style. Then society categorizes them based on what they look like causing negative biases and unfair beliefs about them. Though an important psychological evolutionary trait, it is wrong and unreliable to evaluate a person entirely on the clothing they wear on their body. It is most often very far from that person’s personality or at the very least, a cookie cutter judgement that forgets all the unique aspects only they as an individual have.

The first article I read was about a man of color who dressed down one day and then dressed up the next and went through the same routine. He then took notes on how strangers treated him differently because of his outfit. When he dressed up, people acknowledged him and treated him with respect. When he dressed down, people from these same places avoided conversation and gave off an overall unfriendly vibe. Even with these reactions, this man prefered to dress down because it was more comfortable and he liked the look better. It's a shame he would have to wear something he doesn't like just so everyday people would act more comfortable around him. He's the exact same person no matter what he wears, why should we let clothing define a person. This goes to show just how bad this problem is.

Another social experiment took place when a child actress dressed in nicer clothing and then as if she were poor. Even though she was just a six year old little girl it's sad how everyone's reactions change over something so shallow. When the girl was dressed nicely, people asked if she was lost or needed help and enjoyed her adorable company. Things took the turn for the worst when she was dressed as an impoverished girl. When dressed like that people avoided her entirely and when she tried to engage with anyone, people told her to leave. The event was so bad that it left the child actress in tears. The girl was her same self no matter the outfit, therefore it's a shame that the only thing that mattered was the way she looked. Its especially upsetting since she was so young to deserve such negative