Writer Dad, "exaggerated versions of common thought" seems like a very good way to think about stereotypes. Yes, they'll always be around, and they can even come in handy. :) The best thing about stereotypes, I think, is the conversation and debate they instigate. That's why I feel like we have to keep looking them in the eye and talking through them together.

Trina, you share some real wisdom here. I like your litmus test: If what we're doing increases understanding, then go for it. And considering our "audience" is always important. It also makes it very difficult to ever talk about something in a broad sense. Sometimes it seems like all of life is best taken on a case-by-case basis, doesn't it?

Cheryl, I couldn't agree more with this: "...the most dangerous, insidious stereotypes are those that go un-talked-about." I guess it feels like the generations before ours tried the whole "what we don't talk about doesn't exist" approach, and it seems like it was lacking in many ways. This also rings very true: "INSTITUTIONALIZED stereotypes and the resulting prejudice and even violence are the most insidious because they’ve been stitched into the very fiber of our culture, our religions, our laws and our hearts for so long that we can no longer pick the thread out without unraveling the entire tapestry. No one has to talk about them to make them powerful." And your question about what our blind spots are today? That's SO important for us to consider. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts, stories and experiences.