Stereotypes based on appearance or cultural background can lead to deeply ingrained biases that affect how people are perceived and treated. In an interview with Hauterrfly, actor Kalki Koechlin opened up about being stereotyped due to her fair complexion shed light on a common yet often overlooked issue. “I would always get asked for drugs because I was the white girl in my group. It’s like that loose moral white girl phenomenon, right? They see Baywatch and they assume every white girl must be like that,” Koechlin said. She added, “The minute I would answer back in Tamil and they’d be like, ‘oh Akka… sister’ you know? Like suddenly you change, their perspective of you changes just because you speak their language.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by HAUTERRFLY | A Fork Media Group Co. (@hauterrfly) Judgments about morality or personality based solely on physical appearance can perpetuate harmful assumptions and discrimination. Koechlin’s experience raises critical questions about how stereotypes form, why they persist, and what can be done to challenge and change these preconceived notions. Why do such persist despite growing awareness about inclusivity? Sonal Khangarot, licensed rehabilitation counsellor and psychotherapist, The Answer Room, tells indianexpress.com, “Stereotypes based on physical appearance, such as skin colour or ethnicity, persist due to deeply entrenched historical, cultural, and social factors. Colonialism, particularly in societies like India, left a legacy of colourism, associating lighter skin with beauty and superiority. Caste and social hierarchies further reinforced this, linking darker skin with outdoor labor and lower social status. Generational conditioning through media and traditions continues to glorify fair skin, while social conformity drives individuals to align with these biased standards to avoid judgment or rejection.” Psychological factors leading people to make assumptions based on superficial traits “Psychologically speaking stereotypes serve as cognitive shortcuts,” notes Khangarot, adding, “The brain seeks to categorise and simplify the vast amount of information it encounters daily, often leading to overgeneralisations based on visible traits like skin colour or ethnicity.” She adds that the confirmation bias further strengthens these assumptions as people tend to notice behaviours that align with their preconceived notions while ignoring contradictory evidence. “The halo affects where a single characteristic, such as fair skin, influences perceptions about a person’s morality or behaviour. These biases can be magnified by cultural narratives and media portrayals that consistently associate certain traits with specific behaviour.” Challenging and unlearning biases Khangarot informs, “Unlearning biases begins with self awareness. Individuals need to consciously reflect on their own assumptions and question their validity. Education plays a key role - exposing oneself to diverse cultures, perspectives, and histories help dismantle stereotypes.”
