Hello, My Name is Hypocrisy

I just finished a training course with an organization I volunteer for. It is always interesting when a cross-section of the population from different cities get together, especially when discussions about helping “different communities” are involved. Today, as I listened and smirked at suggestions for dealing with certain cultures, I was smacked in the face with my own prejudices about what a “prejudiced” person looks like. When I think of intolerance, I automatically picture a white male from a rural community and by doing so I am just as guilty of stereotyping as the people I pretend to be more enlightened than.

We all quote the platitude that “everyone has prejudices” though in my head I add the qualifier “else” between “everyone” and “has”, but it is not true. I am a ruralist, I stereotype people by their proximity to urban centers. I also stereotype people by their level of education (ridiculous, too, as I am well aware that education does not correlate to intelligence and vice versa), and I judge people by their interests.  If, for example, someone tells me they like NASCAR, I make all kinds of assumptions about their lifestyle and it’s wrong. It is just as wrong as suggesting all people of a particular culture share the same political beliefs or that all people of a certain sexual orientation have the same dating patterns.

It is human nature to classify things. That’s what we do. We have built an entire area of science around the practice. At the time, there was probably a need, but as we move toward globalization, demographics become less important. I am far from advocating for the homogenization of humanity (though it is happening whether I advocate it or not). Quite the opposite, I believe diversity adds to the richness of humanity. I also understand that it can lead to barriers between people. At this moment, I want to put aside the cultural awareness I so prided myself on and start trying to understand individuals on a case-by-case basis, but I am lazy and classification makes things easier, so it may be just a matter of time until I revert. I hope not.