They feared difference, lacked an understanding of my culture and used stereotypes as an excuse to keep me isolated within the company. This was an organization where I find myself unable to remain for any lengthy period of time.
It was also an extremely important moment of revelation with regard to the way that I approach others, particularly those who are in some manner different from me. I was now alerted to my own tendencies with respect to others, and even to realize that I had been guilty of employing stereotypes in the past as well. Perhaps in a sense, I had been somewhat standoffish around my new all-white coworkers because I allowed this sense of cultural isolation to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. This again causes us to consider the theories discussed in Ruchlis' text. The author explains avoidance as a dimension of stereotyping that is passive in nature but nonetheless damaging where the interrelation of social actors is concerned.
Avoidance is generally produced by fear of difference and may characterize my initial dealings with my white coworkers. My perception was that white Americans often tend to be verbally aggressive, loud and inherently outgoing. This may have caused me to behave in ways that were defensive and guarded. To this extent, my issues with this organization may have been a product of a reciprocal discomfort. This was a revelation that I had not considered when I had first absorbed the insults of...
Without question, their remarks and behavior made it clear that the environment was largely marked by a disregard for issues of discrimination.
But this was not sufficient to excuse my own behavior, which may well have prevented me from gaining familiarity with individuals in the company on a more individual level. This would prove a valuable revelation is it would concern my future organizational experiences. Indeed, these would be marked by positive relationships with individuals of countless ethnicities and cultural stripes. I tend to approach such relationships with a conscious dismissal of any assumptions which might impede my ability to objectively come to know people on an individual level.
I have found that in addition to bringing me greater personal fulfillment and social satisfaction, this has helped me to ease the fear and discomfort which are sometimes experienced by individuals who have had limited interaction with those of cultural difference. Ultimately, this denotes that the most important aspect of dispatching with potentially harmful stereotypes is the mutual dismantling of the fear and ignorance which so frequently feed into this type of behavior. Organizations and individuals alike tend to experience infinite benefits from this degree of openness, tolerance and acceptance.
Works Cited:
Ruchlis, H. (1990). Clear Thinking: A Practical Introduction. Prometheus Books.
