Daniel Nell

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According to Edward W. Said(1978 : 13) the orient is an idea that has a history and tradition of thought, imagery and vocabulary that have given it reality and presence in and for the West.

Orientalism is but a single example of a stereotype against a culture and a race to strengthen the ideology of the West. It was used to enforce and strengthen colonial rule from the West.

According to Ngozi, to have a single view or idea of a topic is dangerous because it limits your understanding of what the actual reality is within the certain culture or country you are learning about.

Stereotypes affect a culture as a whole and as a result of this those responsible 'other' the people within that culture, be it through literature or media, the results are the same. Not all stereotypes are negative, however it depends on the reasoning and context behind it. The topic of stereotypes and stigmatization is not lost on me as I as an individual have experienced it as well. 

I have learnt that to have assumptions without knowing the full story or full picture of a certain topic is dangerous and damaging. To only present a certain culture in one way ensures that they do not have the power to defend their beliefs and practices. What we see as right and wrong may not be what a different culture views as right or wrong according to their societal norms and values. So therefore, by not knowing this we shed a bad light on that culture and we end up 'othering, them.