and bias. To hear statements such as "Oh, you know, they're a McGrath, of course they're a bad person!" or "You shouldn't hang around with those Bernauer boys, they're trouble, just like their dads" is a common-place, daily occurrance in many rural areas.
In other words, people always judge you based on your last name and your family first, you and your actions come second (perhaps once they know you). Sure, it's not the same as, say, dropping the name Rockefeller in the city along the east coast of the US or something, but it's still a prejudgement based on your last name and relatives.
So, although people may *say* don't judge others by their relatives, I think it's extremely popular and that action speaks louder than words in this case.
JMHO, of course, based on my experiences. |
