Trying to Solve the Problems of Stereotypes
According to the Oxford Dictionary, stereotypes is a "widely held but fixed and oversimplified
image or idea of a particular type of person or thing".
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| Photo Credits: Matthew Wiebe |
And yet, people have been trying to get rid
of stereotypes for the better part of a decade. Why? Because stereotypes limit
us. Stereotypes can be something that ties people together, yet also cages us.
It is easy to let who we are determine what we like, instead of the other way
around. And the obvious answer: set yourself free. Don’t let stereotypes trap
you. Don’t be boggled down with what others expect of you, want from you, and
see you as.
If only it were that easy.
If only it were that easy.
Stereotypes still exist only because we want
and we feel the need to “fit in”. We can be the personality clones, wearing
different faces, inside our little cliques. Or we could all be radical
individuals, lonely yet special. But honestly, neither of those sounds very
appealing. So we want both, or to be somewhere in the middle. But how? How do
we conform to a group, yet still retain that vital individuality?
I don’t know.
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| Photo Credits: Viktor Hanacek |
A stereotype is identifying a person/group by
one of their aspect. So let’s flip the board around. If it was not the
projection that had the problem, then perhaps it’s the projector itself we have
to focus on.
If we stop recognizing and categorizing
people based on race, gender….then we really wouldn’t have the whole stereotype
problem. Yes, stereotypes exist. But as long as we, ourselves, remember that
everyone (yes everyone) is more than just what you see of them, then we would
have a much easier time actually getting to know each other.
By understanding that we are actually all
different people, with different likes, dislikes, ideals…then slowly
stereotypes are broken. You discover the Asian raps, the jock is into science.
The world turns from being well….stereotypical…to a 3-D, exciting, living
place.
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| Photo Credits: Lee Scott |
Perhaps by now you would think I’ve gone on
and on without really giving a solution. But really, if there was such an easy
way out, why would there still be a problem? So cliques and stereotypes are a
process. If we see a direction, we head towards it. We take two steps forwards
and one step back. Perhaps there never will be a solution. Perhaps between here
and there, the struggles we face, that’s what makes life worth living. And who
knows, maybe at the end, the world will be a much prettier place.
- Selena
Autumn Blues
I walk on a
street
Filled with
skeleton trees
And a ground of
leaves.
They sway.
They dance, you
know.
Through the sound
And the strength
of the wind that blow.
They change color
Green, yellow,
red.
Sometimes I wonder
Why it gets
colder.
This time of the
year
The dark is
longer.
I wonder.
Is it the world
and its method
Of keeping things
balanced as it should?
Or is it to keep
things unbalanced?
Is it the same
gravity
That makes the
leaves fall to the ground
as the one that
pulls you to me?
I wonder.
A poem by Jose
Dealing With Stereotypes
I started to avoid making eye contact with the people I was talking to
because of the way they were looking at me. They stared with their sparkly eyes
as if they were reading my mind, and it always put me into an irrational fear
that I could not ignore. I could not help but think that they were judging me
by the acne on my face, the weird Korean accent that I had, and everything else
that made me different from everyone else.
But was my fear really 'irrational'? I thought about it and realized
that I had this fear because I felt that people were judging me by the way I
look, talk, and act. I was afraid that when people saw the acne on my face,
they would start thinking, "She probably doesn’t wash herself often." But I do. I wash my
face at least twice a day, shower once a day, and brush my teeth at least twice
a day.
Stereotypes are formed when people try to figure out who you are simply by your appearance, actions, and words. They connect you to their past experiences with others who have acted in certain ways and assume that you will be like those people, too. This leads to prejudice and affects people's ways of thinking about you, as well as their attitudes toward you.
Stereotypes
Stereotypes are formed when people try to figure out who you are simply by your appearance, actions, and words. They connect you to their past experiences with others who have acted in certain ways and assume that you will be like those people, too. This leads to prejudice and affects people's ways of thinking about you, as well as their attitudes toward you.
How to Deal People with Stereotypes
In most cases, people who view you through stereotypes will not be very
kind to you. They might look at you critically and treat you with contempt,
which may lead to discrimination from others.
However, should you be afraid of what others may think about you and
therefore hide your true self? Of course not! You should always be confident
and proud of yourself so that people can feel that you are not weird, but
unique. Prove to them that their stereotypes and prejudices are wrong.
Other effective ways to get rid of the stereotypes that people have of
you is to talk to them. Do not avoid eye contact like I used to do; it will
only make them think that you have low self-confidence. Look them in the eye so
that they can see clearly for who you are, not through the lens of stereotypes.
The most important thing that you need to remember is that you should
not be influenced by any judgement someone may have about you. Let them think
what they want; do not hide or lie about yourself so that you can fit in and be
like the others. All you need to do is to be proud of who you are and of your
differences, because you are special.
- Cindy Hong
Stereotypes and Pumpkin Spice Lattes
Let's do a survey, shall we?
Answer yes (mentally) if you have recently:
- Instagramed pictures of pumpkins or trees and hashtagged #fall
- Worn flannel or Uggs
- Bought seasonal lotion or candles from Bath and Body Works
- Purchased a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks
- Began thinking about shopping for Christmas presents with months still to go
If you answered yes to most questions, chances are, YOU are a basic, white girl! Not the case? How odd. Those listed above were all examples of stereotypical behavior expected from a "basic white girl". The term itself is quite problematic because (sadly, unbeknownst to everyone,) stereotypes don't often reflect reality.
Let me ask another question: what ethnicity are you? If you are Chinese, someone has probably asked you what "ching chong" is. If you are Japanese, someone has probably asked you if you watch anime. If you are middle eastern, someone has probably assumed you're a Muslim. It happens, and as immigrants or children of immigrants, we find ourselves dutifully correcting people all the time.
But stereotypes are not all bad. Most of the time, they stem from a grain of truth. For example, yes, most Asians who have studied in their respective countries will appear to be "smart" because their previous curriculum was advanced. However, it is when small minds take the stereotype and ignorantly apply it to every person in that group, generalizing every individual, that it becomes a serious problem. It leads to discrimination, classism and racism. Obviously, in this day and age, it goes without saying that everyone is different, and in a perfect world, everyone would be treated as such. It is why calling someone a "basic white girl" or asking someone what "ching chong" means may be problematic.
But, to borrow a quote from one of my favourite books, "the world is not a wish granting factory". Sometimes stereotypes are simply (and unfortunately) the norm; especially here in Vancouver, where we have a sea of diverse cultures. Generalizations are easy to make. I'm sure you find yourself making them all the time, even unknowingly. I fall victim to this way of thinking as well. When it does happen, I try to recognize the detriment of these thoughts and I will force myself to rise above them.
At the end of the day, if we take the time to get to really know a person, and have the decency to treat them as an individual and not a clone, all stereotypes are eventually crushed. If you are truly my friend, I promise I won't judge you by how many pumpkin spice lattes you consume.
- Tina Madani Kia (Contributing Blogger)
Last-Minute Halloween Activities
Halloween at the Hotel Vancouver 2014
The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
will host one of the city’s largest Halloween parties on Friday, October 31.
There will be live DJs, a massive costume contest, professional dancers, and a
comedic conjuring of the Lady in Red – the hotel’s famous ghost.
- Friday, October 31
- 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
- 900 West Georgia Street, Vancouver
- Purchase tickets at: http://www.hotelvancouverhalloween.com/#tickets
Stanley Park Ghost Train
Each year the Stanley Park Ghost Train takes
our riders on a journey through a magical world, themed by Halloween and other
creepy tales.
The theme for 2014 is “Mother Goose’s Ghastly
Garden”.
The Ghost Train operates from Friday, October
10 to Saturday, November 1, 2014, and is closed on Monday,
October 13 for Thanksgiving.
PLEASE NOTE: The train is covered, but dress warmly.
It’s not just a train ride. You can also enter the Spooky Barn, visit the pumpkin patch
and pumpkin-carving tent, dress up for the costume contest, and go on a
lantern-lit walk.
For
tickets and more Information, please visit:
Fright Nights
Come
and face your fears at PNE Fright Nights. PNE opens from October 10 to November 1 and features 7 haunted
houses, including a brand new house, 13 rides, The Monsters of Schlock, back
for 2014 the Kinshira Fire Performers and other terrifying shows and
attractions.
Location: 2901 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC
For tickets, location, attractions and more
INFO,
Please visit: http://www.frightnights.ca/index.html
Carve a pumpkin and dress up
your house
Go to your grocery store or pumpkin patch and
carve a pumpkin. If you’re really into Halloween, decorate your house and spook
your neighbors. It’s a great way to be in Halloween spirit!
Local community events
Don’t forget to check
out events that will be hosting in your neighbourhood! Volunteer in a haunted
house event or go trick-or-treating with younger kids. Also, don’t forget to
check out the creepy decorations around your neighbourhood!
Dress Up!
The best part of
Halloween is dressing up! Check out some local costume shops and dress up for Halloween!
Vancouver Halloween Costume Shops
- The Party Bazaar - 1296
Station St., Vancouver 604-873-5241
- Dressew Supply - 337
W. Hastings, Vancouver (604) 682-6196
- Just Imagine…Fun Clothing - 3060
West Broadway, Vancouver, 604-222-3523
- More Madness Costumes - 3350
Fraser Street, Vancouver, 604-734-8865
- Vancouver Costume Merchant of Dream - 2137CommercialDrive,
Vancouver, 604-568-7315
North Vancouver
Halloween Costume Shops
- Boo
La La Costumes - 152 East 2nd Street, 2nd Floor, North
Vancouver, Phone: 604-986-4880
- Party
City - 879 Marine Dr, North Vancouver, Phone:(604) 929-9202
Burnaby & New
Westminster Halloween Costume Shops
- Columbia Costume Rental - 42
Sixth Street, New Westminster, Ph: 604-524-0413
- Hollywood North
Costume Supplies - 3735
1st Avenue, Burnaby, Ph: 604-299-2000
Surrey Halloween
Costume Shops
- The Costume Bank - 105-11558
132A Street, Surrey, 604-583-4037
Langley Halloween Costume
Shops
-
The
Party Bazaar - #100 –
19888 LANGLEY BYPASS, LANGLEY PHONE: 604-510-5585
You can also DIY your
own costume! Check out some videos on YouTube and make some easy and affordable
Halloween costume.
- Lu
- Lu
Movies to Watch This Halloween
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| Photo courtesy of: Duncan Harris |
It’s that time of the year – Halloween, my fellow earthlings. One tradition we do during Halloween, no matter where we come from, is to watch good ol’ horror movies. That’s exactly why I’ve prepared this list of movies that I highly recommend you watch this Halloween season.
As an Asian, I know there is a stereotype that Asians make a mean... weird... sometimes, nasty horror movies. But let me be the one to tell you that they are indeed really scary, which is why I’ve included some of them in this list. However, most of the movies that I will recommend are English movies because, well, it’s a good way to learn the language (although foreign movies with subtitles also help you with spelling)! So let’s get this list started:
(In no particular order of scariness)
1. Insidious (Chapters 1 and 2)
Scariness: 9/10
I just watched this recently and man, I regret putting this one off. This is a story of a kid who has the ability to astral project and unfortunately, he got trapped in the further. I do not want to spoil anything and so all I can tell is this made me scream and scared of my own shoulder.
2. El orfanato (The Orphanage)
Scariness: 7/10
This is a Spanish horror film by the Guillermo del Toro, the same producer of Pans Labyrinth (I also recommend this movie). You know those movies with a sad ending that makes you hate the movie? Well, this one is different. I guess I already hinted that this movie will have a sad ending, but like I said, this one is extraordinary. This is a story of a family who moves into an orphanage house and turns it into their home. One day their son goes missing and a mystery of the mother’s past plays into this accident. After I watched this movie, I literally felt sad for at least a solid 2 hours. That’s why I recommend this! Not that I want you guys to feel sad. Maybe I want you guys to feel sad so you will know how it feels like to lose a son.
3. Shutter
Scariness: 9/10
So this one is a Thai movie. And if you ask me which one of the Asian countries makes the meanest scary movie, I’d say Thailand for sure. This movie is so scary the US decided to make an American version (so you can watch that one too), though I really recommend the original because of all the elements. Anyways, this one is a story about a couple who become hunted when ghosts started showing up in the photos they take.
4. Phone
Scariness: 6/10
This one is a Korean movie and I think they go second after Thailand when it comes to scariness of horror movies. Phone is a movie about, and I quote wiki, “a complex and disturbing love story that involves possession and ghosts.” Sorry, I don’t even know how to summarise this for you. Even Wikipedia says it’s “complex”. I’ll tell you one thing though, moments near the ending you’ll be like “whaaaaaaat??”
5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Scariness: 5/10
I’ve only seen the 2003 version and not the 1974 one. This is a slasher movie and if you’re not into that, you can still watch this. Because, well, this is far from being gore. In my scale anyways. This is a really sad and just...sad movie to watch. Couple of friends got massacred. I guess people like me watch it for the adrenaline! But hey, there’s a few screams in this movie.
6. Silent Hill
Scariness: 7/10
I watched this one when I was a kid and so it was pretty scary for me. Till now though, I would not watch it by myself. This movie is based on a video game, but I’m telling you this one is really scary. A woman brings her daughter in a town called Silent Hill in hopes of curing her daughter’s illness. After an accident, she awakens only to find out that her daughter is missing and the rest is ghost story for you to watch. Yeah, that right. I’m not telling you anything. I dare you to watch this and roam the hospital hallways. Alone.
7. The Conjuring
Scariness: Unsure
I’m a little unsure how to rate this one because everybody says this is one hell of a scary movie, so scary that people would have to talk to priests or would need a bible on their bedside table after watching the movie. I’m not saying that it’s not scary. It is, because I really remember myself not being able to go to the bathroom alone. Hehehe. Anyways, you can watch this one alone (if you have the guts) but it won’t linger like others have proclaimed. Right, back to the summary. This one is about a family who are terrorized by ghosts in their house so paranormal investigators come to help them. Oh, and Annabelle is a doll form this movie who is getting her own movie this October! I think this will be a good one because it’s a real doll. Dun.dun.dun.
A list with seven movies is a little odd (pun intended). However, I ran out of good scary movies to list (please don’t judge my definition of “good”). I just don’t want to list some scary movies here that do not have a good plot. And a lot of the scary movies I know are either psychological thrillers or super duper gore ones. You can also notice that The Grudge and The Ring are not on the list. That is because I do not wish, even on those people that I dislike, to get traumatized. Yes, the grudge and the ring are really scary for me that I wasn’t able to sleep silently after watching it. I even know people who won’t really watch it because of how scary it is.
And so that’s it my fellow earthlings. Go ahead and at least watch one from this list! Make you sure you watch it at night and get some home buttery popcorn ;)
- Anonymeh
“A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche
An Old-School List of Things To Do During Halloween
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| Photo courtesy of: Nick Taylor |
Did you know that over half of the world doesn’t celebrate Halloween? (Well, now, you know!) Of course, that does not mean it is less important than other annual celebrations.
Because the country where I was born does not celebrate Halloween, it was one of the exciting things I had looked forward to when I first came to Canada. I had heard fantastical tales all about the wonders about this festival which gives free, yes FREE, candy to children as long as they dress up. When the day actually came along, I was more than self-conscious about wearing a bright-orange smiling pumpkin (though I was only 11). Of course, there was nothing to be scared about; Halloween is great fun, always spiced with scary stories, regularly filled with autumn treats, and there is never a lack of things to do. Ever year, Vancouver offers various events and activities that enliven the Halloween spirit in the city.
The Fright Nights at Playland is one of the quintessential Halloween events that a typical Vancouverite goes to every year. I think it is overrated, but it is a great experience to have; you get to experience free rides and 7 haunted houses (I strongly suggest the carn-evil), some performances, plus the usually Playland stock. The decorations are amazing, with dressed-up professionals hiding amongst the visitors ready to scare the crap out of you. A word of warning though, line-up can get crazy the closer it is to Halloween (up to 1-2 hour waits for Haunted Houses). But overall it is a memorable experience, definitely worth a try.
There are also haunted houses located all over Vancouver, be it renovated homes, temporary set-ups, or rented community centres--someday we’ll probably start seeing haunted vans roaming the streets! These are great if you like a good scare. A couple of good ones I’ve heard about: the Dunbar Haunted House, the China Town Haunted House, and the Reaper’s Haunted House and Maze.
You can also go old-school and do the neighbourhood trick-or-treat. Just dress-up, ring the doorbell of any decorated house and say the magic words. Try to stay in the suburbs though, as apartments usually don’t hand out candy (some business districts also hand out candy: Yaletown, Metrotown, and parts of downtown.) On a side note, I would like to remind you not to eat any sketchy “candy” that has been opened or is “self made”!
If you are feeling more of the I-just-want-to-stay-at-home vibe, there are still a multitude of fun things to try. For example, I spent an entire Halloween carving pumpkins. They are cheap, they look great pretty much regardless of skill…and if you can’t carve them all, you can eat them! It is also a great time to make…more interestingly shaped foods (‘finger’-biscuits, meringue ghosts, anything pumpkin spiced…) and stretch back to enjoy some cheesy, or really, really, scary (or both) movies.
Really, the possibilities are endless. This fun and scary holiday is not one to miss out on! This week, don't miss out on fun Halloween activities--head outside and discover the wonders of Halloween!
- Selena
The Cure to School Envy
"Once again, school begins."
From the news to shoe sales to blog magazine themes, this
message is plastered in nearly every corner of the city like a slap to my face whenever a new school year is just about to start.
Surely, everybody's Facebook News Feeds and Twitter is flooded with reactions
towards the annual phenomena.
Every year, there are always students who can't wait to back to school. On the other hand, there are also those who are groaning at prospect of
homework and classes. If only they knew how much I envy them all...
I, like many other immigrants in their late teens, will not
be part of the student population this term. We all have different reasons, of
course, and it ranges from personal choice to no choice at all. Wherever we are
on the spectrum, we all face the same problem: what are we supposed to do with
all that free time?
Fortunately, Vancouver has countless to offer to those of us
who are looking for something to do and they fall under two categories:
If you can't go to school, go to work.
Getting a job is easier than you might think. I should know
because for someone with unimpressive credentials, I managed to scrounge an honest work in an
office. The trick is to ask for some guidance.
Besides your parents and friends, you can reach out to
immigration centres such as the ISS of BC and SUCCESS which offer aid for any immigrant-- even us youth!--
who are looking for employment. Some of the help they provide us include
narrowing our job search, teaching us how to write awesome resumes, and giving
us tips on how not to suck at interviews.
Although getting work will take a lot of hard work and
patience, it is completely worth it. Not only would we get cash, we would also
up our work credentials this early in the game of employment. We may not get
our ideal jobs at first try but we can expect to have a better one in the
future with our gained Canadian experience to work in our favour. And have I
already mentioned cash?
If you don't have homework, have a hobby.
What hobby? Any hobby. Absolutely anything that interests
you. If you can think it, count that Vancouver has a group or club for it.
A budding artist? Join the Vancouver Urban Sketchers!
They pick a place in the city and sketch whatever they see. Amateurs are
welcome.
If writing is more your thing, I heard some good stuff about Pandora's Collective. Fancy name, I know.
They host at least three monthly events in
Vancouver like the Twisted Poets Literary Salon and Word Whips.
If you're the type who wants to better the world one small
step at a time, have a shot at volunteering. Now that school has dragged
students back to their classrooms, organizations will be looking for volunteers
to fill the spots many students have left. I found my volunteering opportunity
at VancouverYouth.ca. The website is not only filled with volunteer postings
but event announcements as well. Speaking of, VANITY also has monthly posts
about upcoming events that you might want to check out.
Being a scrawny kid, I myself am looking to add some meat in
my bones what with winter fast approaching. I decided to enrol in Tai Chi
classes and take a fitness membership offered in one of the many community
centres in the city. Each local community centre provides workshops and classes
ranging from martial arts to gardening. You check out the programs available to
you at Vancouver.ca.
***
Getting a job or a hobby, whichever you choose (or if you plan to do both), it is important to understand what they have in common: both require you to step out of the comfort of your homes and reach out to what you want. This new world may seem scary but we cannot let it freeze us from living our lives. Let us get out there and show the world that we may not be in school yet, but that doesn't mean we can't.
- M.R.
Thank You!
Thanksgiving is a holiday where, according to Wikipedia, Canada "celebrates the harvest and other blessings of the past year." It's a time to be grateful. But what should we be grateful for? We need to be grateful for the blessings that we receive on a daily basis. Below is a list of unsung heroes that we need to be thankful for:
- soldiers and police who sacrifice/sacrificed their lives for our safety
- construction workers that work their bodies off for the best of the community
- farmers who work endless hours to keep food on our tables
- teachers who give knowledge to the learning people
- bus drivers who take us to where we need to go
- media content producers to keep us entertained
- programming geniuses who produce and/or maintain social networking sites to keep communication alive
- friends who are there with you in every step of the way, and parents and family who look over and love us unconditionally
Of course, these aren’t all the people we should be thankful for. There are more on the list, and if I listed them all, then this blog post would not end. Personally, I’d like to thank you for reading this post, and being a part of the VANITY Blog family. Thank you for being an awesome person!
If you see someone who you think we should all be grateful for because of their actions, why not give them a simple "thanks buddy for being so cool" compliment? Because of these people listed above (and of course, there are many more), our lives are made easy.
I've got one question for you: who are you thankful for? Comment down below!
With gratitude (and then some),
Jose
What's Up, Vancouver? (October 2014)
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| Photo source: monnibo |
Vancouver Book Fair
October 4-5, 2014
UBC Robson Square
www.vancouverbookfair.com
October 5, 2014
2121 Marine Drive, West Vancouver
http://westvanpumpkinfest.ca
PNE Fright Nights
October 10, 2014 - November 1, 2014
PNE Playland
www.frightnights.ca
Stanley Park Ghost Train
October 10 - November 1, 2014
Stanley Park
www.vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/ghost-train.aspx
October 10 - November 1, 2014
Stanley Park
www.vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/ghost-train.aspx
Festival of Chocolate
October 15 - November 10, 2014
Various locations
www.festivalofchocolate.ca
TEDx Vancouver
October 18, 2014
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
www.tedxvancouver.com
Haunted Vancouver Trolley Tour
Tuesdays to Saturdays from October 18, 2014 to October 31, 2014
Canada Place
www.vancouvertrolley.com/tours/seasonal/haunted-Halloween
Vancouver Halloween Parade
October 19, 2014
Davie to Granville to Smithe to Howe
www.vanhalloween.com
Vancouver Writers Fest
October 21-26, 2014
Granville Island
www.writersfest.bc.ca
Haunted Village
October 23-26, 2014
6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
http://www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca/EN/main/visit/events/haunted-village.htm
October 23-26, 2014
6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
http://www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca/EN/main/visit/events/haunted-village.htm
