Overview: In Chimamanda Adichie's TEDTalk, she discusses the dangers of stereotypes and what she calls single stories that are perpetuated about groups of people. Mariam Thalos discusses the connection between identity and freedom and claims that freedom is the result of self-conceptual acts that often defy social norms and oppressive systems. Nicolas Geeraert points out that the origins of psychology focus primarily on Western culture, and calls for a cross-cultural approach that examines the effects of culture on the shaping of our mental processes. Annie Paul writes about unconscious bias and explains why people create stereotypes. Claude Steele discusses the term stereotype threat which affects individuals who are members of stereotyped groups and cultures.
Prompt:
Compose a thesis in response to the essential questions:Narrow your topic, and then reflect on the following questions:
What is the impact of an individual’s culture and identity on their position in society?
Does freedom exist for all cultures and identities, or is it limited for some?
Consider the cultural factors that affect a group's freedom (race, gender, socio-economic class, religion, sexuality, ability, age, etc.) Which cultures/groups are free, and which are inhibited?
How do single storiesÂ, stereotypes, and stereotype threat affect our freedom?
How does unconscious bias affect our perceptions of groups that are different from us?
What single stories have been told about you? What single stories have you told about others? What are the lasting effects of the single stories?
What can we do to actively overcome single stories and stereotype threat in ourselves, and others?
Support your argument in the body paragraphs.
Summarize and cite key definitions (single stories, stereotype threat, unconscious bias, etc.)