Implicit Association Test

Some of the articles I read prior to taking the Implicit Association Test reported that the test was made in a way where anyone who took it would present a bias toward a particular group. It is said that some people get offended after taking the Implicit Association Test or they just don't agree with their results. Before taking this test, I expected the results to be extreme. The results I obtained actually surprised me. The different tests I took were: Gender-Career, Race, and Weight. My results for the test associated with males/females and how identify each gender with career and family was pretty accurate.

The IAT demonstrated I had a moderate association of Male with Career and Female with Family. Although I don't strongly believe men are made to work and women to raise children, I was brought up in a household where my mom stayed home until my brother and I were 10 and 8 years old. Throughout that time, the breadwinner in my house was my father. While I was growing up in a home where my dad was the one working, I was also taught that women need to have careers too and be self sufficient. It's obvious to me why I was considered "moderate" on this topic.

Of the three IAT's, the one that measured our bias toward Race was the one that surprised me. I received a
moderate automatic preference for European American compared to African American. Prior to the test, I thought I was going to get a "strong automatic preference for European American" because of my cultural background. It is a tendency within the Cuban Culture for white Cubans to make racist jokes against black Cubans. With that said, I automatically assumed I was going to show a great bias toward people who are black.

I was extremely curious what the IAT would demonstrate in the test that was focused on Weight. Well the tests results proved to be on target because I got a strong automatic preference for people thin people. About four years ago, I had to be treated because I had an extreme phobia of overweight people and becoming overweight myself.

I don't think that just because anyone gets these results means that they are just rude stereotypical people. It might just mean that somewhere inside, there is a deep rooted perception that was instilled by media and even family as we grew up. Luckily, some us are aware and try not to let ideas influence our day to day life.

Mexican does not mean Tobasco Sauce

During this semester, I'll be embarking on a journey to a far away place...Homestead, to immerse myself in the depths of Mexican culture and become acquainted with people of illegal status in this country. Although I am Hispanic, I know that I will learn a lot from this experience.

Hispanics even within our own people tend to stereotype each other based on someones nationality. Americans might not fully understand this because some of them out of ignorance classify us all as Mexicans. (Side note- notice how some non-Mexican Hispanics get offended when asked if they are from Mexico).Growing up in a Cuban family, there was always that uncle making a racist joke often referring to people from Central America as "Tira Flechas or Indios" which in English would mean Wet backs or Indians. For many Cubans, being referred to by any of the above terms is an insult. My parents never instilled those stereotypes in me but a lot of my other relatives did. Aside from that, my classmates in elementary and middle school were students of Cuban background. Even as a little kid I remember hearing Mexican jokes, or other children getting teased because they were called "Tira Flechas".

Now as an adult, I don't look down upon them or anything of the sort but I do feel I would be extremely uncomfortable in a social setting where the majority of the people are Mexican or illegal immigrants. Often, the media portrays these people to be blood-thirsty women abusing, carrying guns in their back pockets, and drugs in their front pockets  yelling "Bato" at each other. That is not always the case. Still, because I've already had my brain fumigated with these kinds of stereotypes I do get extremely nervous when I am around many Mexicans. As for the illegal immigrant part, I feel uncomfortable around them because I have somewhat of an idea about their situation and I feel sorry for them. I don't know how to cope around a large of people going through a extremely devastating situation.

Based on all that I've explained, I chose my Community Insight Project to be at the Homestead Flea Market. My goals at the end of the semester are to  shatter my preconceived notions of the Mexican culture, gain insight on issues affecting immigrants, learn how to manage my own personal awkwardness with a situation etc.. I am very excited but nervous. Hopefully tomorrow I can visit it for the first time.

I'm taking Intro to Stereotype 101

Stereotypes are often difficult to avoid in today's societies. Many times we make decisions based on the stereotypes our elders instilled in us while growing up. Whether it was during the first day of fourth grade and your mom told you to zip up your book bag because of your 3 black classmates, or perhaps in college when your best friend advised you to get your professor a bottle of Tabasco sauce for Christmas because she is Mexican. Not a lot of people take the time to stop and analyze if these are true, instead they continue going through life with these misconceptions floating around in their minds.

"Reporting in a Multi-Ethnic Community" seems like it will be a very promising class, one from which many of the students in it will realize that stereotypes are just that stereotypes. The class requires that a Community Insight Project is turned in at the end of the semester. Each student must find a population or group that they are uncomfortable with, know nothing about, or are scared off and visit that certain location at least 3 times during the semester. Although a challenging assignment, it is also going to be very exciting because all the students are required to interact with the individuals who visit that place.

Making a decision as to what place I will be visiting has not been easy. In order to really learn and grow from this experience I want to choose a place that will really push the boundaries of my comfort zone. Different groups I have considered are the lesbian and gay community, the Mexican population, the homeless, folks living in Liberty City or Overtown, and unwed teenage mothers. I have to yet to make my final decision but before the end of this weekend I will know what community I will  be visiting.

STAY TUNED!