Seven years after I-Pod was first released, I finally caved and got one. It makes the commutes on the subway more enjoyable. I’m actually noticing a lot more people with an I-Pod, or some kind of music player. I also noticed that I stereotype the kind of music I think people listen to based on their appearance. For example, if I see a black person with headphones on, I immediately think that person is listening to hip-hop. A white girl is probably listening to Justin Timberlake or something. It’s pretty messed up. For all I know, they could be listening to anything! This stereo typing comes to me almost unconsciously, and I’m not sure where the source of it is. The media probably plays a big role in it.
I’m reminded of a post I read yesterday on Racialicious, talking about stereotype casting on Reality TV shows. It’s an open discussion on whether producers of Reality TV shows actively enforce stereotypes on their shows.
