Do Stereotypes Change People's Identity?

Have you ever wondered why people are so stereotypical? Identities have been revealed to the world, and that’s how stereotypes have been made. Many people believe that stereotypes do not define identity, but I believe otherwise. Stereotypes may change people’s identity by making them feel weak and different. Stereotypes are un-written rules that society believes people should follow. They are usually used to sort people into different groups in society. Though stereotypes are used to make it easier for others to understand each other, sometimes it makes it more complicated for others to accept the actions of those forcefully put in the groups around them.
Naturally many people are afraid to go about what everyone else says is correct. That’s why people change themselves to fit in with the “crowd”. They are allowing stereotypes to stipple their true identity, thus not being who they truly are. Where stereotypes categorize people into different groups, it puts an impact on peoples’ emotions, social lives, and how people interact in their environment. Not only do stereotypes classify how others act,
they also classify a persons’ skin color, and gender. In society those characteristics are some of the first things we encounter about one another. “We utilize race to provide clues about who a person is and how we should relate to him/her” (Omi 627).
Some particular stereotypes are taken too far as a result of popular culture. Racial tensions and jokes are often influenced my TV shows, media, and music. In the reading Working Class Whites it gives examples of the different stereotypes that TV shows put up to make a profit. It uses examples such as white trash, uneducated, criminals, poor whites, etc. People watching those types of shows tend to act upon them. It arouses the prejudice hatred in our society allowing segregation of different groups of people and classes.
Stereotypes have an enormous impact on people.
It makes people have no motivation; therefore they won’t have good performance at any level in their life. Some impacts lead to psychological pressure, especially in women. Women believe that stereotypes are a threat, and that people label them out of jealousy. The world uses words in the wrong way, like labeling someone as a hippie because he/she has beads in their hair. These types of stereotypes puts even more pressure on how people feel, not only being around people who are labelling them, but being around people that they trust. People get tired of being criticized all the time. The ones being stereotyped start to become isolated once people keep running there mouth’s for so long. In the same way they don’t talk, because they are afraid to say something wrong, so that they won’t look silly. They are afraid of
failure.