Call me narcissistic but, I always imagined that I was too unique and complex to be typecast. Oddly enough, while I have dedicated my career to breaking down cultural and gender stereotypes, I didn’t fully understand just how easy it is to be a target of stereotyping. Ladies and gentlemen, I have officially been a casualty of stereotyping!!
Recently I received comments about Ms. Cosmopolite that were both befuddling and slightly amusing. Curiously, these comments, which seem to focus exclusively on my physical form, ignore the spirit of my work in creating cultural awareness and promoting a cosmopolitan worldview. Now, I don’t consider being labeled as “too attractive”, “not ethnic looking enough”, a “globe-trotting socialite”, or my personal favorite “too feminine” as necessarily negative however, I am fascinated by the questions that come to mind with such comments. (What does one’s looks have to do with having a global mindset? Could a woman be too feminine? What qualifies as an ethnic look? Is globe-trotting negative? Can a socialite also be a community activist?)
A stereotype (from the Greek word stereo + týpos = "solid impression") by definition is oversimplified conception or opinion based on assumptions or false associations (i.e. blondes are fun loving, superficial women who don’t care about the world or their place in it!). Humans often feel safer in a system, therefore, process information by categorizing people and behaviors. Naturally, this leads to generalized perceptions based on first impressions, which may work in scenarios where instant decision-making is needed, but can also lead to falsehood or worse. For example, someone that feels Ms. Cosmopolite is too attractive, well-dressed, or feminine to promote a message of universal values and peace, most likely has created a “solid impression” in their mind of what an activist or peacemaker should look like and isn’t willing to change their impression even when NEW information is provided. American journalist
Walter Lippmann called a stereotype a "picture in our heads" saying,
Whether right or wrong, ...imagination is shaped by the pictures seen... Consequently, they lead to stereotypes that are hard to shake.
Stock characters are often used in comedies and sitcoms to oversimplify life and therefore, feel a bit cartoonish. It’s like watching TV in black and white – it feels one-dimensional or retro. The fact that a visual image has the power to supersede the content of a person’s character and message is not a new concept, but rather an outdated one. I would say it’s time to step into the kaleidoscope of the 21st century and start seeing in color folks!!
That Ms. Cosmopolite has been stereotyped based on her picture is truly ironic since she is chiefly about the written word! Interestingly, stereotype and cliché were both originally printmaking terms referring to duplicate impressions of an original typographical element. The first reference to "stereotype", in its modern usage was in 1850, meaning, "image perpetuated without change". Ms. Cosmopolite vows to change your image of what a creative, intelligent, global-minded, social, peacemaking, curating, community activist looks like... just keep READING!
Ms. Cosmopolite
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