Stereotypes
I believe that stereotypes are extremely unnecessary and terrible things. For me, a stereotype is classified as when somebody looks at a person and by a single glace at what they’re wearing or some other outward appearance, they have already made up their minds about what type of person they are. They are basically quick assumptions about a person without giving them a chance before judging them. Though most people do this naturally, stereotypes do not mean that a person is the exact parallel to next in that particular stereotype. Personalities differ from person to person, making them not fit entirely into that classification. Nobody wants to be placed into a made up classification as if they were animals in a zoo.
I’d rather people see me as myself rather than as an obnoxious teenager that dresses weirdly. I have been stereotyped almost too many times to count in a number of different categories. For example, it has been assumed that I do drugs or drink just because I shop at certain stores and listen to a certain genre of music. This is, however, not true at all! I may like the “rocker” style and music, but I don’t really fit into that particular part of the stereotype. I still have morals and beliefs about what is right and what is wrong. I, in fact, disapprove of the use of drugs and alcohol because I have seen how it affects other people’s lives. It just doesn’t seem like it’s worth it to me. However, what is wrong for one person might be right for somebody else.
Similarly, I have also been stereotyped as “boring” because I take honors classes and take time to focus on my schoolwork. Personally, I feel like school is very important to a person’s life because it allows them to mature and learn how to survive in the world. Also, jobs revolve entirely around college, and I hope that someday my hard work in school pays off.
It is clear to me that stereotypes are completely unnecessary and they can ultimately end up hurting others. Without stereotypes, I believe that the world would be a better place.