Busting Stereotypes

Shawna Henderson

Mar 22, 20203 min read

We have arrived at week eight of my Multicultural Literature class. This week I learned about Global literature. Each author was from different cultural backgrounds. In fact, they each had a dual inheritance, a blending of two or more cultures. Many people try to navigate where they fit in when having a blended culture. Every culture, religion, and gender are faced with bias and a victim of stereotyping. “Wedding at the Cross” by Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, is the story of star-crossed lovers. Set in British-ruled Kenya, Wariuki and Miriamu have many obstacles to overcome. The main obstacle is Miriamu’s parents who have colonized and align with the high-end British. Although Christians, they look down upon others who are not at their same status. Miriamu is drawn to Wariuki’s easy manner and loves him even as a pauper. The rejection Wariuki feels from her father sets him on a path of revenge. Wariuki works hard to raise his station to prove the father wrong. Along the way he allows himself to be used by white men with power to achieve great wealth. He turns his back on his country during the revolution because he won’t allow himself to see the injustices that have been afflicted by the British. In the end, he transforms into the image of Miriamu’s father, a pretender in his own country, and ends up losing her.

In Jamaica Kinkade’s “Girl”, a mother tries to prepare her daughter for her role as a woman. Cooking, cleaning, and taking care of a home. The mother gives the daughter little bits of advice such as “this is how you set a table for dinner with an important guest; this is how you make tea; this is how you behave in the presence of a man” (Kincaid, 1978). She also makes sure her daughter knows her place in the world, “don’t squat down to play marbles – you are not a boy; don’t pick people’s flowers –you might catch something; and this is how to bully a man” (Kincaid, 1978). The author was raised with three brothers, but she was the only one who was tasked with domesticated chores. As a child, her educational pursuits ended after her stepfather became ill and she had to stay home to take care of her siblings. (Norton Anthology, 2019).

Sadly, these stereotypes and many others are still prevalent today. Stereotypes are subtly ingrained in children at an early age. As an educator, you can intertwine your lesson plans with activities that break down cultural, gender, and religious stereotypes. Encourage your students to be free-thinkers and teach them how to be active members of our society breaking stereotypes as they go.