STEREOTYPES AND BIASES

Instructions:
List 5 stereotypes/biased opinions about the Muslim Tribes in Mindanao. Explain in your
own words why these stereotypes/biased opinions exist within mainstream society.

STEREOTYPES/BIASED OPINION EXPLANATION WHY THESE BIASES EXIST

Muslims creates war.
Muslims are thinking of taking-over
Mindanao.
Their clothes are too hot/warm.
The emotion they express whenever they
speak is like they were angry at you (Talking
like they are angry).
Marrying more than one wife is okay for
them.
- This stereotype exists because the
place where they originally came from
is not in the Philippines but overseas,
that’s why they have different way of
living as a tribe not like how other
tribes live their lives concerning the
beliefs, norms, culture, and tradition
wherein they have almost the same
beliefs and color of clothing. The
Muslim tribe in Mindanao was
generally define as tribes who creates
war because of the news we heard
from radios and saw on televisions.
- Because in connection to the
explanation on biased number one,
they create war. As far as I could
remember, I heard on the news that
Mindanao will under Muslims regime
as a whole.
- Because the way they wore their
clothes are covering their whole body
not just like the usual way of wearing
clothes.
- Muslims are very good in selling
things at the market and every time I
buy their products; they always shout
at people but they are not angry at
that moment. That’s just how they
naturally speak. They were judged by
that way of speaking because they
speak not like any other tribes.
- For other tribes marrying more than
one wife is committing adultery but
for them it’s okay as long as you can
suffice the needs of your family.

Activity
WHAT I LEARNED (Reflective essay)

Instructions: Write a reflective essay about the biased opinions that mainstream society has
towards our Muslim brothers and sisters. You may use the biases opinions you indicated in
Activity A. Explain how these biased opinions can be corrected and how we can live peacefully
and harmoniously not only with our Muslim brothers and sisters but with other indigenous
communities.

According to an anonymous statement, Muslim tribes formerly came from overseas and
they are not good with interacting towards other tribes originated here in Mindanao. The way
they talk, the details on their clothes they wore, and the custom, norms, beliefs, traditions,
and/or cultures they practice are way different from other tribes in Mindanao. These
stereotypes can be avoided but how?

Stereotypes among tribes are created because they believe that their tribes are the
original tribes and also because of superiority. “Our tribe is better than your tribe…”, “We are
originally from…”, or “You should follow and be one of us because our tribe is bigger than
yours…”, these are the statements that may come up inside our minds when stereotypes is
above us or rules over us. These can be avoided when our way of thinking is positive or after
equality and/or equity. If we think that their tribes are better than ours then, tell them that
“You practice traditions that we don’t practice and also our tribes practice traditions you don’t
practice.” What we need is respect!

We are different from one another and we should at least respect each other’s
practices. Ones we accept everybody’s differences, that is the time that we can achieve
harmony among men of different tribes.