In a forum that I hang out in, I have been having some *interesting* (for lack of a better term) discussions about politics, religion, etc. I try to keep an open mind and listen to what people have to say. I may not always agree with what they had to say, but I can at least listen to what they say.

Lately, I've been... I don't know, surprised/shocked/dismayed at some of the generalizations that are being made by some of my friends. I know that I'm not a perfect person, and I've never claimed to be... but it urks me to no end when I hear people stereotypying others.

So what exactly does it mean to stereotype someone? Well, according to dictionary.com, stereotype is to have a conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image. To me, I think it is an *easy* way to put someone in a catagory so that you don't have to take the time to get to know who that person is and what their life is about. It's a way to have a narrow minded view of the world so that you can keep the barriers up between yourself and others. There's no point in finding out about that person, right? You already know *everything* about them because they are (insert stereotype here).

Having had this happen to me, and by someone who I thought cared about me, was one of the most impactful experiences I have had in my life. An ex of mine and I were trying for the same position in a department, and I was more qualified than he was. I ended up getting the position. His response to this was that the reason why I got the position was because I was a woman. Hmm... so lets see: had nothing to do with the fact that I was more qualified. It was because I was a woman, so I was either sleeping my way to the top or I was filling a quota somewhere. How flattering.

I constantly have to battle this "impression" no matter where I am. To those people that like to stereotype me, there is no way that I should be in the positions that I get to. Throw out the fact that I work my ass off whenever I get into a position and do the best job that I possibly can because that's my work ethic. That's not important. Never mind the fact that the boss appreciates the work that I do because I make him look good because the work gets done. Oh no, he likes me because I must be doing, well, you know with him.

I guess that what I have been trying to say is that if the people that made these assumptions would have just taken a moment to really get to know who I am, then they would have known that the above stereotype wasn't true. However, because they didn't take the time to do that, they short changed themselves by not getting to know a really great person.