Society’s Stereotypes Women belong in the kitchen, and Jews are cheap. African Americans are criminals, and Asians are geeks.The poor, of course, are lazy. Media portrays people from all walks of life in many different ways, painting them in ways that are not always true to reality. When watching a movie, the majority of police are white men, and most women stay home raising their children. Gender and racial stereotypes also play a significant role in today’s society. Race has been influencing every aspect of American society since it began; Native Americans were seen as subhuman when Europeans came to America. Race and racism were still polarizing when the civil rights movement took hold 400 years later, and stereotypes continue to take
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Widespread anti semitism in Europe led to such atrocities as the Holocaust. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a story told through the point of view of Bruno, an eight year old boy whose father is a Nazi commander based in Germany, not far from a concentration camp. Bruno, disobeying orders, goes out wandering and finds Shmuel, a Jewish boy on the other side of the fence in the camp. The two become unlikely friends, often playing on opposite sides of the fence and sharing food. During much of the story Jews are talked down upon. Bruno for much of the plot keeps his innocence and is unaware what is happening. He does know that he is forbidden from having interactions with a Jewish person. He says to Shmuel, “We’re are not supposed to be friends, you and me. We’re meant to be enemies.” During the Holocaust the Jewish people and anyone who did not meet a certain criteria were systematically put to death. The stereotype that Jews were inferior to Germans caused the persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews during World War II (Macionis 404). A race should never be characterized as anything less than the people that they are. In this case stereotypes cost people not only their dignity and humanity, but also their
Widespread anti semitism in Europe led to such atrocities as the Holocaust. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a story told through the point of view of Bruno, an eight year old boy whose father is a Nazi commander based in Germany, not far from a concentration camp. Bruno, disobeying orders, goes out wandering and finds Shmuel, a Jewish boy on the other side of the fence in the camp. The two become unlikely friends, often playing on opposite sides of the fence and sharing food. During much of the story Jews are talked down upon. Bruno for much of the plot keeps his innocence and is unaware what is happening. He does know that he is forbidden from having interactions with a Jewish person. He says to Shmuel, “We’re are not supposed to be friends, you and me. We’re meant to be enemies.” During the Holocaust the Jewish people and anyone who did not meet a certain criteria were systematically put to death. The stereotype that Jews were inferior to Germans caused the persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews during World War II (Macionis 404). A race should never be characterized as anything less than the people that they are. In this case stereotypes cost people not only their dignity and humanity, but also their