Stereotypes -Alice Seo

There are many stereotypes that influence how people perceive people’s first impression or the impression in longer term. I personally think that having some informational stereotypes (based on facts) is beneficial but I disagree with the statement that people should judge people only based on the pre conception that they have on others.
Just because I am from Seoul, Ichon (dong bu ichon dong) people consider me as a rich girl who has a lot of money to spend. However, the truth is that I don’t really receive any ‘pocket money’ regularly from my parents. Instead, I ask for money whenever I need any. Also, they don’t really give plenty of money to spend compared to other friends around me. In fact, some people around me who live in Dae-jon, Dae-gu, or Chung-ju, that are relatively less urban, receive more money than do the kids from Seoul. Therefore, the fact that I live in Seoul doesn’t mean much but only creates prejudices. However, I have benefited from preconception too. People who know about Korea have basic ideas about my life. Therefore, even though the people are from culturally different places, they understand my culture and try to fit their perspective to mine. Many teachers in TCIS doesn’t only criticize the Korean ideas or cultures that other foreigners or who has lived abroad may have but many times agree with our ideas and try to help people understand different perspective. Many foreigners usually don’t understand the passion for education of Korean parents. However, people in TCIS understand that this is common in Korea and understands it. These are the stereotypes that helped me.
I thought of African Americans to be a group of people who are so liberal in their thoughts that they would violate all the laws and lead illegal crimes. When I got to take a same subway as an African American, I would be nervous and try to move to another seat to get farthest as I can be from him. It was the prejudice though. After those experiences, I came to TCIS and met several African Americans. They were at the first time very different from me but they weren’t mean or criminal. I found them friendlier and joyful than my previous perception and had built great friendship with them.
There are many different cases where prejudices can act as beneficial or harmful effect. In the bad impression on people can be most of the time wrong and exaggerated. However, it could be beneficial compared to people who have no idea toward others at all. Therefore, I admit that it can have two sides and cannot determine whether it is beneficial or harmful. Though, the ultimate truth is that people cannot ever get rid of stereotype: it is inevitable to live with preconception whatever influence that might have on people.