Stereotype, statistic or part of the culture: how can I tell?

Question

How can we learn about people who are different from ourselves? How can I tell when a particular thing I hear is a BS stereotype, a statistical fact for which there may be complex explanations, or "just a part of our culture?"

Answer 1

You can learn anyway by listening, asking questions, reading on any culture, and never taking as granted factoids.

Note that stereotypes are rarely on the plus side. Statistics should be supported by how they are prepared, extracted and what sample of population was used (otherwise they are only gossip), and cultural differences are usually justifiable by traditions and/or geographical, climatical reasons.

Answer 2

Stereotypes aren't necessarily all bad. In fact- it's sometimes the only way to describe a culture. However- the moment we apply the stereotype to an individual we are making a big mistake.

The way bigotry works is that we walk into a situation with a stereotype and then subconsciously look for evidence to prove our hypothesis. A mild example: I've heard that blonds are stupid. I meet one blond who does something stupid. Hypothesis is confirmed, and now that goes into my mounting evidence that blonds are stupid. It doesn't matter that I've met 1,000 blonds that aren't stupid, my bigotry machine is at work and my subconscious is busy keeping score.

Answer 3

Educate your self, keep an open mind, always consider the source, most of all education

Answer 4

It's a good idea to do some research.

Answer 5

travel or go to goggle
never be afraid to as why?

Answer 6

READ