Students will learn about stereotypes, particularly as they relate to the Washoe and other American Indians, and why we will attempt to avoid prejudice in our study of Washoe culture. They will also learn about and practice empathy, identifying feelings, and getting along with others. A stereotype is a belief or picture of something, held by a group of people, that is oversimplified and made without sufficient evidence or knowledge. A stereotype is often about another group of people people with a particular shade of skin, people with particular religious or cultural beliefs, people in a particular profession, people from a particular area of the world.
Stereotypes lead to prejudice and unnecessary conflict in people's dealings with others.
Prejudice comes from prejudge, to judge before having adequate information. People are prejudiced against other people because it is easier than learning about another culture or getting to know an individual from that group. People are prejudiced against other people because it makes them feel better about themselves if they can say that an entire group of people is not as good as they are. Often the people to whom the stereotype refers are discriminated against and made to feel bad about themselves. Prejudice is all around us on television, in conversation, at school.