Everybody has a group of friends they feel comfortable hanging around with. The choice of what group you agree to associate with is how stereotypes begin. The fact I have a large group of friends, we are generalized and treated in a different manner. We are then judged on the basis of whom we choose to associate with, how we dress, the hobbies we engage in, and the activities we are often seen doing. I strongly believe that this is not fair and should not be the case since we are meant to be unique in our own way. In my essay, I will focus on the two stereotypes, the swot and the skaters, which are associated with activities.
My personal experience and the judgment I have received from my fellow students greatly affected the type of stereotype I decided to pick. I have in the past found it hard to explain to friends why I associate with people based on their individual character that than a crowd perception. I love reading and most of the time I would prefer reading over athletics or any other sporting activity. On the other hand, my best friend loves sporting activities and skates in school. Most people assume that because I am into books, I am quiet, reserved, and not funny (Cottrel, 2017). On the hand, simply because my friend puts on a hoodie and skates, they assume that he uses marijuana and abuses other illicit drugs. It is these and other misconceptions that make people stereotype not only us but other groups of students such as the cheerleaders, the athletes and the gamers.
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As a swot, I am expected by most people to love school, talk about education all the time, and keep to myself. This stereotype has greatly affected me since I am not a loner in nature. On the contrary, I love playing computer games, going out with friends, and hosting gatherings. However, the perception that I am a loner has made me fail to be invited to events and gatherings as people presume that I am boring.
Most people avoid being friends with me as they assume that I do not have a good societal relationship and that I am not into sports. Same is the case with my friend with my friend who is skater. On multiple occasions, he has been summoned by teachers who presume all skaters to be social misfits and illicit drug abusers. He is often judged by many students who do not want to get on the wrong side of the law especially the religious folk. The tattoos and Mohawk that most students have made them are viewed as disobedient, lawbreakers, and immoral. They are seen as products that should be ferried to juvenile (Darder, 2016). Although we grow old and mature, the bitter truth still remains that even after high school, we are left battling with low self-esteem issues and the general crowd’s perception never changes over the years.
These stereotypes act as barriers when they lead to peer pressure, mindless confrontation, self-deception, fear of change, and wishful thinking. When one is faced with stereotype, they often tend to react and readjust by trying to fit in (Cottrel, 2017). In many instances, peer pressure and self-deception become options. However, in other instance, mindless confrontation may occur between the person being stereotyped and those who have chosen to stereotype them. This might result into violence or ugly verbal engagement. In such instances, it is important to critically think and find solutions on ways of handling stereotype. Talking to people and expressing oneself freely are some of the avenues of dealing with stereotyping (Halpern, 2014). In doing so, we often find ourselves at crossroads dealing with our problems rather than escaping them through unsuitable means such as drug abuse.
In my life, I avoid jumping into conclusion about people and their character before getting to know them and interact with them at a personal level. This way I find the good in even the people everyone assumes are the good-for-nothing lot. If I interact for example with a student who loves wearing black and is shy I do not simply jump into conclusion that they are gothic. When I meet a student with tattoos and maybe do not look neat, I understand that the appearance is not what matters (Halpern, 2014). In many cases, I speak to people, engage them, participate in forums, and go out from time to time just to show my peers that even swots can be fun to hang around with.
Stereotypes are caused by the perception of fixed overgeneralized assumptions about other people or a group of people. They are caused by the insecurities we face within ourselves. We often find it easier to channel our frustration and dissatisfaction because we tend to focus on other people’s flaws when we are unhappy with ourselves. Self-acceptance is a prerequisite for reducing judgment and bad treatment. Understanding that we are all unique is a key step in dealing with stereotyping.
References
Cottrell, S. (2017). Critical thinking skills: Effective analysis, argument and reflection .
Darder, A. (2016). Culture and power in the classroom: Educational foundations for the schooling of bicultural students . London: Routledge.
Halpern, D. F. (2014). Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum: A Brief Edition of Thought & Knowledge . Hoboken: Taylor and Francis.
