The stories of real people
How can the Internet help end stereotypes?
We naturally form deep-rooted stereotypes of groups of people. Stereotypes help us make snap judgements of people and animals based on certain qualities. And in the past it served us well — making sure we run away from that jaguar or baboon.
But nowadays, we see the problem with stereotypes too. It is almost as if there are rigid, wooden models that people must fit into. This is the fundamental cause of discrimination and hate (racism, sexism, homophobia, you name it). Deep down, we probably know that these stereotypes are unhealthy, but it is still difficult to withstand the urge to understand individual human beings by associating them with the “patterns” the we believe that people must fit into. Even just by mentioning some characteristics of a person, a stereotype easily comes to mind.
One very good way to break down the false misconceptions behind this hate is to bring to attention the stories of real people who don’t fit into these stereotypes. This helps us see that people aren’t just defined by their race, religion, ethnicity, gender, class or anything like that. Instead, we are defined by the actions and decisions we make in life.
It’s tried and true
And it’s not like this hasn’t been done before. Many attempts have been made at this — and they’ve been more than successful.
Humans of New York
Sites like Humans of New York have made attempts to showcase the stories of these people, a peek into the lives of real people that goes beyond sheer stereotypes. Based in New York City, the photoblog showcased the diversity of NYC, and in doing so, contradicting and defying stereotypes, while also resonating with a large audience. Photographs of real, stereotype-defying human stories come with a short caption, and this caption often has the power to move people to tears.
HONY has made a big impact in the way people see New York City. And it goes beyond Brandon Stanton. Think about the thousands of “Humans Of” photography blogs around the world. This is an example of the power of telling the life stories of real people. Every single story is testament to our shared humanity. No longer are we constrained to stories we hear about “welfare queens” or bible-loving Southerners.
HUMAN the film
In the film HUMAN, French filmmaker and environmental activist Yann Arthus-Bertrand presented a documentary with interviews with people all over the world, from Senegal to the United States. In these interviews, these people shared their unique stories and perspectives.
For many of these people, the interview was a chance to open up about their everyday problems — and these don’t always match what our stereotypes would have us believe.
These interviews were presented on a simple dark background, with no name or nationality attached. As Arthus-Bertrand later explained, this helped viewers focus on our shared humanity, rather than the differences that divide us.
The film garnered some millions of views on YouTube and was later played at the United Nations General Assembly. The success of HUMAN only goes to show how this actually does work. Stories of the misfits have the potential to reach millions of people and change millions of minds.
Why not the Internet?
Even though efforts like HONY and HUMAN are still incredibly successful, they are still inherently limited in their ability to uncover stories that challenge our rigid stereotypes. Practical and logistical limitations make it basically impossible to do this on a large scale.
A missing element from these efforts is a participatory element. Instead of a work published on the Internet, would a participatory platform make it easier to share stories do more good? For what it’s worth, it would definitely be easier to discover and harness the power of these stories if anyone who had a story to tell could just log on the Internet and share a life story with millions around the world. Just like how Upworthy was a big hit on Facebook, these inspiring stories are almost built for the Internet.
The Internet’s massive reach makes it the most natural fit for these stories. Maybe it is time for a new Internet platform that lets people tell, read and share life stories that have the potential to challenge our preconceptions and inspire us to look at the world in a new light. (Definitely let me know if you happen to come across one or, better yet, if you happen to be building one.
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