Coping (And Not) with Stereotyping

Excerpts from the Paper

Coping (And Not) with Stereotyping
Judith Ortiz
Cofer
, a Latina, and Brent Staples, an African-American are proof that stereotyping still exists in this land of the free. As these two writers explain, however, there is a way to cope and overcome the indignities of being singled out as a member of a minority.
Ms.
Cofer
, a highly educated poet, essayist and writer, begins her essay with the sad reminiscence of her bus trip from Oxford University where she was earning graduate credits, being “serenaded” by a drunken young man, who “with both hands over his heart, he broke into an Irish tenor’s rendition of ‘Maria’ from West Side Story” (
Cofer
, 1993, p. 172). Ms
Cofer
explains that she remained calm and civil.
For some reason West Side...

.....lts of being stereotyped. Ms.
Cofer
writes and lectures about getting “respect.” Mr. Staples claims he reduces his anxieties by whistling Beethoven and
Vivaldi
. Yet, in both cases, and others, stereotyping is a reality because some people only judge outer appearances rather than the individual himself.
Frankly, I am not sure that I would be even-tempered if I were insulted with a stereotypical slur about my gender, sexual preference, weight, religion or ethnic background. In fact, I might retaliate with similar language. I envy those who can deal with stereotyping and remain calm (at least on the outside).
References:
Cofer
, J. O.: “The Myth of the Latin Woman”
Staples, B.: “Black Men and Public Space”
From: Chapter 4: Between Perceptions