When someone assumes something or asserts a claim based on one part of your identity, that is in fact "Stereotype." Stereotypes take on many forms. It is a cognitive aspect in our perceptions of people, communities or regions whether positive or negative. If you walk into a store to purchase a dress or shirt, once payment has been made by the owner, she automatically gets rid of the label/tag and goes ahead to rock the dress in whatever style suits her; the dress no longer belongs to the boutique. As humans, we should learn to get past these beliefs and react to people more on the basis of his/her individual character rather than the skin colour, gender, religion, age or ethnic background. Stereotypes have a way of triggering or affecting our actions towards people or persons from a particular sect. We take one experience or ordeal or a small idea and try to extrapolate the idea around it to assert a broad claim over a larger population without adequate evidence. Discrimination and prejudice becomes a major societal problem because these stereotypes subtly encourage it within our niches. We need to let go, of every preconceived image or idea we have of people and just relate with them on an individual level...