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In Western societies, stereotypes are usually frowned upon. But stereotypes can be good and useful, as these ten examples attest to. So the next time someone calls you a racist or sexist for believing in racial or gender stereotypes, you can proudly point out that these things exist for a reason, and make life easier for everyone around them!
1) Stereotypes help people to quickly identify what they’re looking at
There’s no need to spend time trying to figure out who someone is or what they do — instead, all you have to do is look at their dress code and other outward indicators. This saves a lot of time that could otherwise be spent on more pressing matters.
2) Perfectly polite people sometimes need a helping hand
People who are polite and kind to everyone are normally the nicest people in the room, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have their own problems with dealing with certain people. If you’re approached by someone who is rude and hostile, you might find yourself trying to avoid that person for fear of causing a scene. However, as long as you stick to your guns and don’t back down, you should be fine.
3) Stereotypes are great for navigation
If you’re lost, it’s human nature to use all the information at your disposal, such as a map and a smartphone. But if you’re lost and you don’t have any way of finding your destination, stereotypes can often be very useful in identifying landmarks that will help you work out where you are. Maybe a particular feature of the buildings will help you identify the area and find your way around.
4) Stereotypes can be useful for making friends
If you’re a shy, introverted person, it’s all too easy to find yourself alone, without any friends or acquaintances. However, if you believe that shy people don’t make good friends, then you might want to think again… Shy people are actually really good at making friends because they are more likely to choose people who understand them and who they can converse with easily and naturally with.
