Sustained Dialogue at MSU |
De-Stereotype Me
2018 De-Stereotype Me Day
What?
De-Stereotype Me Day is a bi-yearly event hosted in two varying locations on campus. The premise of this event is to facilitate a silent dialogue on the MSU campus and highlight some prevalent stereotypes that some may not realize are problematic and harmful to our peers. Why? Stereotypes exist in our daily lives and bringing them to the surface in a public space is an effective way to address the impact that the stereotypes have on us. How? This event invites students to anonymously write a stereotype that has been assigned to them as well as how they 'break' that stereotype. The stereotypes are hung on a board nearby for peers to read and consider the impacts. Facilitators ask participants to specifically use "and" statements in their responses. For example instead of writing "I am Native American but I don't get a check because I'm poor," one would try write "I am Native American and I don't get a check because I'm poor." An additional example is, "I'm bisexual and I am not promiscuous." Who? This is a free event and all MSU students, staff, and faculty are welcome to participate. Each year approximately 150-200 students participate over the course of the two day event. Countless others stop by to read about the experiences of others. |
Check out these TED Talks and the individuals' take on stereotypes and how they impact their daily lives.
2009 TEDGlobal Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie "The Danger of a Single Story" 2012 TEDxZurich Elanor Tabi Haller "How to Avoid Gender Stereotypes" |
Future De-Stereotype Me days to be announced!