Contesting Stereotypes Stereotypes play a significant role in the lives of many individuals. The concept of stereotype is defined as an assumption made about a group based on different observations by other race and nationality. In Wesley Yang’s essay, “Paper Tigers,” he explores how a new community can affect cultural identity through the adaptation of new cultural norms. He then discusses his own experiences as an Asian American living in American society. Yang argues that although Asian Americans are considered the most successful group in the country, they are also deliberated as “the products of a timid culture, easily pushed around by more assertive people,” (Yang, 534). However, this problem can be solved by using the ideas expressed in Malcolm Gladwell’s article, “Small Change,” where he states that “weak ties,” which are usually made from online relationships, do not cause global social change as opposed to “strong ties,” which are formed through face-to-face interaction, (Gladwell, 321). Both authors explore the desired reality of causing social changes in the world. With that being said, strong ties and weak ties could be the foundation to build a greater personal development and success that could make a change in someone’s cultural perception. Through the strong connections of various race and nationalities, different groups can be formed to decrease stereotypes that other people created. Yang proclaims, “Asian-American success is typically taken to ratify the American Dream and to prove that minorities can make it in this country without handouts,” (534). This means that most successful Asian Americans prove that although this is not their native country, it does not mean they would not be as victorious as they would be if they were in their own republic land. Usually, when someone finds him or herself in an unfamiliar place, he/she tries to adapt to the surrounding by blending in. In this case, by creating strong tie groups that will give people the opportunity to express themselves without any judgment, the rate of stereotyping in the future will be less than what it is today. For example, a group of psychologists can sponsor an organization that will help reduce stereotyping. They will promote different knowledge through personal experiences by having each person speak about their cultures. The members of the organization can also work with people that have similar interests towards a meaningful goal. They can build a strong connection that can help ease the rate of stereotyping around the world. Also, these members can put themselves in another person’s shoes and provide multiple perspectives that will make them realize it does not matter what other people say as long as they believe in themselves. This will be the basis of a new strong bond that can lessen negative stereotypes globally. Moreover, another way to decrease stereotyping is by tackling the issue on university campuses through the variety of strong group of students. In the article, “Community and Diversity”, Rebekah Nathan speaks of the lack of community and diversity in a college environment. Nathan asserts, “It was these small, ego-centered groups that were the backbone of most students’ social experience in the university,” (Nathan, 322). In this quote, Nathan means that many of the incoming students already have their own “personal networks of friends” that they have known for a while, (322). This means students can be easily connected to a diverse community due to the fact that if one person in the group knows a certain amount of information, he/she can pass it along on to the whole group. “Ego-centered networks” are characterized by strong ties that are made from numerous relationships, such as friends from high school, friends from organizations, and friends from variety of sports. These strong groups could establish a union that discusses stereotyping issues which in turn would assist teenage students a better understanding of the