Wednesday 3/26/25 - Write about a time when you realized that your perception of a person or group was based on stereotypes. How did this realization affect your behavior or beliefs? What steps did you take to change your perceptions?"

A few years ago, when I was volunteering at a local homeless shelter, I realized my perception of homelessness was shaped by stereotypes, in that I had assumed most people there were struggling due to poor life choices or addiction to substances. Although, after hearing stories from individuals who had lost jobs due to illness, fled domestic violence, or faced other hardships, I saw how complex and varied their experiences were. This realization challenged my assumptions and made me more empathetic and less judgmental. I began educating myself on the root and systemic causes of homelessness and made a conscious effort to see people as humans with universal experiences and motives rather than as simply labels.

Summary: Today we were introduced to a group project regarding negative stereotypes on a selected culture. My group's selected culture was East Asia. In the project, we must create a 10 slide PowerPoint in which find a film, tv show, or other piece of media that portrays negative stereotypes of that culture and analyze criticisms of these stereotypes and how to create more inclusive and responsible representations in the future in media.

Reflection: I leaned that it's important to realize when you are basing your worldview on stereotypes and the harm in that, as well as how to adjust it and become more conscious of each person's experiences.