Southwest Corner

Stereobikes

June 21, 2006

When I was a journalism professor at Iowa State University, I introduced a course entitled Minorities and the Media. The class was later renamed Race, Class, Gender and Media and I taught it for another decade before retiring two years ago.

The basic thesis of the course was that the media tend to reinforce stereotypes we have about "the other"--people who are different from us. Stereotypes, whether positive or negative, allow us to conceptualize and categorize individuals and groups quickly and easily. The advantage of this, of course, is that we do not need a lengthy description about Hispanics, for example, to form an image when we hear the term Latino/a. Our socialization and experience from birth have taught us-- correctly or incorrectly—how to picture and classify Latinos/as. And media portrayals of Latinos/as in reports about immigration issues tend to reinforce our existing perceptions or prejudices when, in fact, these perceptions often are wrong.

While driving into Amarillo, Texas last week on Interstate 40, my wife and I came across 10 motocyclists. None was wearing a helmut. I commented, "Here is your stereotypical view of bikers; male is driving, female is riding behind and neither is wearing a helmut. Despite their appearance, "I suggested, "they are probably typical middleclass professionals just heading to a biker convention."

At this instant, one of the women bikers signaled to change to the left lane in front of me. She had room and easily changed lanes, signaled a switch to the right lane and did that successfully. The posted speed limit was 70, which I was driving but I was safely far enough behind her to cause no danger to either us.

A male biker, who was riding single file several yards behind her had not shown any indication to change lanes while following her. However, when we passed him he gestured and my wife said, "He made some sort of signal; I wonder if there"s anything wrong with our car." I responded, "All the warning lights are off so I think we"re all right."

As soon as the woman biker had changed into the right lane and we had passed her, the male surged past us, pulled immediately in front of us and slowed down to force me to reduce speed. I changed to the left lane but he moved in front of me turning to see where I was and again slowed down.

We are now frightened. My wife called 911 and told the woman who answered that we are being hassled by motorcyle riders on eastbound I-40 on the outskirts of Amarillo. The biker saw my wife on the phone as I made a sudden lane change and speeded up. He leaned toward us and angrily gave us the bird. We both said, "What was that about? We didn"t do anything wrong." The 911 operator said, "Call us back immediately if they try to do anything again."

Fortunately, the bikers stayed behind and we didn"t see them again. Although my blood pressure remained elevated for several minutes.

Unfortunately, this incident resurrected a dormant negative stereotype reinforced by frequent media depiction of motorcycle bikers as lawless, unpredictable, dangerous people. Yes, we know people who are conscientious bikers. But the Amarillo experience will be hard to forget and revived an ugly stereotype that will be difficult to erase.

Steve Coon

Ames, Iowa

Tucson, Arizona

scoon@iastate.edu

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