What stereotypes have YOU left behind?

I left behind roughly every of it.

What remained is not stereotyping, but rather a flexible ( and always open for any modification ) analyzing system. I'll give you an example: if you say to me that you're an artist, then I'll suppose that you are somewhat sentimental, idealistic, floating- this doesn't mean that I assume 100% that you are this way, but until I get to know you closer, I start creating your personality profile based on what I already know about you. My opinion about you can change at any moment, and every act and word that you do and tell, can change instantly what I've been thinking until that moment about you.

The stereotype that ALL Mexicans are dumb, dirty and lazy. Even though I am also Mexican, somehow I grew up believing that. So I worked my a** off since I was 16. My mom was a single immigrant parent with four kids who worked in a factory, so we couldn't afford college. But through hard work, I moved up in the business world and eventually was able to land six figure jobs. I've often though of writing a book called "From Tijuana to Beverly Hills", because I was born in Tijuana, and my first apartment of my own was in Beverly Hills. I am very proud of my Mexican heritage now, and although I know there are some Mexicans that are dumb, dirty, or lazy, I also know there are people of all walks of life that have those same ugly qualities.

I thought that all Arabs were good Muslims. I'm Bosnian and even though Islam is predominant here the majority of communist-raised people don't take it seriously. So when I was still a young teenager I thought that there must be some Muslim utopia out there where people give charity, help those in need, love each others and don't commit sins. Internet and the Arab people I met totally ruined that for me.

As a child, young adult and up til more recently... I didn't have any stereotypes. Since Yahoo... I have to watch very carefully to not lump all of certain people into one group. I still see the exceptions, but many are making it hard to NOT stereotype.

I use stereotypes out of habit and because it has become the "norm" of today...but I try to prevent it...and that's how I know MOST racists, because they don't know the difference between what's real and what is actual stereotype...because they don't know any race but their own, and even that's questionable....

When I was a youth I got hammered with all the propaganda about only white men were special and all other sexes and ethnic groups were somehow inferior. LOL That was one of the first myths i crushed when I cleaned out my mental attic and started thinking for myself.

Remember the 'Super-Mom' thing? I worked 3 jobs, kept house, cooked, cared for my kids and was room mother for both my kids. It almost killed me. I had to quit it.