To believe or not to believe.

Stereotypes are something that has been with us since we first started preschool and developed as we got older. The word stereotype is a widely used term by people of all over the world. As described in the Cambridge dictionary (Stereotype English meaning, 2024) it means “A set idea that people have about what someone or something is like, especially an idea that is wrong”. An example of a stereotype that I have heard a lot in my hometown was that men can do any line of work they set their heart on, but women are only good for taking care of children or teaching. This shown a negative light on women who wanted to become more than was expected of them. Stereotypes normally only have a negative side, as opposed to essentialism that has a positive as well as a negative side (Loock, 2024). Normally the start of a stereotype begins with a single story, written or unwritten. The power a story holds is something we do not think about every day. The writer tells his perspective of the events from his or her side, and although it may be well researched or observed it still only tells one side f the story. When writing a story, one must be as neutral and analytical correct as possible in order to cover all the bases. This is well explained in the YouTube video “The danger of a single story” (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, 2009). In conclusion, the world is full of different stereotypes and stories. It is our responsibility a reader or listener to make sure we know the full extent of the truth before we start believing the story.