Close your eyes and imagine with me, if you will. A girl walks into your 9 a.m. class. She averts her eyes to the floor as she quickly finds a seat. She seems to be about your age; a college student perhaps, but some things about her stand out. Her hair is disheveled and tousled, her cheeks are caked with a brown grime resembling dirt, and her left shoe has a large hole in the front. You observe this young woman and how greatly her appearance contrasts with that of yours and your peers’. Now open both eyes and come back into reality. What are your thoughts?
Homeless, poor, dirty, unattractive: do any of these words coincide with your conclusions? (Be honest now). For most people, making assumptions is as natural as blinking — it is a part of our everyday routines.
We assume that the boy who uses big or fancy words is more intelligent than others and that the girl who speaks loudly is pushy and aggressive. We assume that a person being overweight means that they don’t care to exercise or the girl who constantly raises her hand to answer questions is a show off. We assume that men who cry are weak and that all religious people believe they’re high and mighty. We assume, we assume, we assume and almost all assumptions are based on a tiny amount of information.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, as of 2009, the United States has 932 active hate groups; 16 are right here in Arizona. Undoubtedly, the issues these groups condone continue to thrive today — racism, gender and sexual orientation discriminations are everywhere. But why? Why do Harvard professors get arrested in their own homes and local sheriff’s offices discriminate against Hispanics?
Assuming you don’t already know the answer, it goes back to our assumption making. (Hey, I said we all do it, myself included.) Assuming leads to judging, and judging can lead to unfair classifications. I see a girl in torn clothes and I assume she must not be able to afford what I deem as nice attire. I place judgments on her: She must be poor and she must’ve brought it on herself. Now I finish with a stereotype: She must, as all poor people do, sit on the side of the road with a cardboard sign. All of this I concluded from a single piece of clothing on someone’s body.
“People judge one another to make themselves feel better,” said exercise and wellness sophomore Charmayne Etsitty. “They think that whatever they think is right.”
We when are so quick to make assumptions, especially those based on minimal pieces of information, we not only undercut the person, place or thing, but also ourselves. What does it say of our reasoning and logic if we place judgments on someone or something we hardly know? I can tell you now, it says a whole lot.
As the saying goes, you can’t judge a book by its cover. It’s easy to see someone and immediately start to make assumptions, but it’s better to get to know him or her and discover the truth. You never know, that individual may have a lot to offer.
Let Shala know your assumptions at smmarks3@asu.edu
