Questions 11 & 12 (AS)

11. How does the culture we were brought up in influence the way that we perceive others?
Culture has a major influence on our perception of others around the world. Events that take place, particularly tragic ones, that involve people from another culture often cause stereotypes to be made. For example, after the terrorist attacks on September 11th, people in the US began to stereotype all Muslims and people from the Middle East as terrorists. This is completely false, but the people of the US were angry and upset and needed an outlet for these feelings. Hence, the stereotype and the hatred. Every culture possesses these types of intolerance, and that transfers almost every person within that culture's ideas and perception of others.

12. Do you believe that men and women can be perfectly equal in our society?
Based on my knowledge of biology and psychology, I don't believe that men and women can be perfectly equal in our society. I believe this because each gender has different strengths and weaknesses. Men are superior in a physical aspect because biology and evolution have made them stronger than women. Conversely, women are superior psychologically. Women are wired to be more emotional and have the maternal instinct lacking in men. Due to these factors, men and women can never be equal because they're each built for different things that the other gender can't do.