Understand Me

It can be hard to talk when you’re being judged on your race, religion or culture. But we've got advice to support you.

On this page

What are stereotypes?
Think you understand me?
What you can do
Support and advice

Stereotypes can make you feel judged

What are stereotypes?

A stereotype is an assumption someone makes about you based on your race, religion, ethnicity, gender or sexuality, whether you're transgender or if you're d/Deaf or disabled.

If you've been affected by stereotypes, you might:

experience discrimination or hate crime
feel like you have to hide parts of your identity or background
want to change how you look
get bullied or hurt by someone else
feel lonely or isolated
have low self esteem.

If you've been judged because of how you look it can make you feel upset, angry or powerless. But we're here to support you.

Things to remember about stereotypes

They're not based on truth.
No one has the right to judge you.
Everyone deserves to be treated as an individual.
You can get support if you're being treated badly.
We're here to listen to you.

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Get support

Our counsellors will listen to you and won't judge. If you're feeling misunderstood, we're here for you - whenever you need to talk.

Watch now: Think you understand me?

What you can do

When you’ve been stereotyped or discriminated against it can feel difficult trusting people. And hearing comments based on stereotypes can be hard. But there are things you can try to help you cope.

Ignore them

It can be difficult to ignore hurtful comments but reacting can make things worse. Sometimes it's best to walk away. The most important thing is how you see yourself.

Say what you think

People sometimes believe stereotypes without thinking about them. Sharing your opinions can help to change people’s attitudes. Read our tips on how to be assertive.

Get support from others

There are lots of ways to let your feelings out if you've been treated badly.

Tell an adult you trust

Telling someone what’s happened can help to stop you feeling alone. They can also help you to think about ways to cope.

It can be be upsetting if you tell an adult and nothing happens. Remember that it can take time for things to change and if you need more support you can talk to another adult as well.

Celebrate what makes you unique

Everyone is different. But it can be difficult to have the confidence to show it. Talk about your background and what makes you unique.

You could also ask other people about their culture and beliefs. Sharing things about each other can be a great way to show that stereotypes aren't true and make you feel more confident.