Breaking the Hype - Look at how stereotypes make people feel trapped, pressured and misunderstood, and come up with ways to break them down and treat each other with greater respect. Stereotypes can come between you and your true self. Peer pressure uses stereotypes to make people think they have to do certain things to be accepted. Stereotypes can make you feel bad about who you are. Caring about yourself and feeling good about yourself help you stay healthy.
Stereotypes also come between people and build walls.
We all need to work together to confront AIDS as well other challenges in our lives. In breaking down stereotypes, you learn that you can trust your own values and people can start to see each other as they really are. For the first part of today's discussion, you will explain what stereotypes are. In your Peer Helping class, come up with at least 10-15 stereotypes that you have heard in your school, in your town, on T.V. or anywhere. Then think of at least one example for each of the stereotypes on your list that proves that the stereotype is not true.