I have been thinking about this topic for some time now. Stereotypes… Why do we constantly keep on labeling one another when we are so complex, so sophisticated?
I was a brunette, redhead and now a blonde. I love to dress like a hippie, elegant, punk and business. I sleep under the open sky and in 5 stars hotels. I love both the mountains and the sea. I have hitchhiked and traveled by plane at business class. I have been a fool and a genius. I have had my lows and my highs. How can you put a label on me?
What is a Stereotype?
A stereotype is a preconceived notion about a type of person or a thing. It is rather a very simple and superficial image about someone based on zero experience and has most of the times nothing to do with reality.
It is developed due to poor parenting, conflict and inadequate emotional and mental development. The problem is if someone behaves exactly as expected than that strengthens the stereotype in our mind.
We all know or have heard about racial stereotypes… cultural stereotypes like Asians are good at math and you imply that all Asians are amazing at math. Or Italians and French are the best lovers and we cannot in any way generalize this!
Gender Stereotypes
Gender stereotypes is another issue because women were taught to be “the mothers”, “the carers” and little girls must be delicate, fragile and weak while little boys are strong, they don’t share their emotions and should be messy.
We all know now that this is not true! And today, millions of examples from the whole world are breaking down these stereotypes!
We also have stereotypes based on individuals – on clothes and styles – punk style, goth, rebels and business men. Blondes and redheads, curvy women and skinny women, chubby guys and skinny dudes! So many stereotypes are around us all and I bet you will also fit into at least 4 stereotypes like race, nationality, sex and style or just the music that you listen to.
Are you a sports fan? Do you love movies? Are you an artist? A corporate? A traveler? Do you have a tattoo? You cannot avoid being put into a box by someone who just doesn’t understand you or doesn’t want to and prefers to throw a label at you and not deal with the truth.
How Can You Put a Label on Someone?
Reality is that I am an individual with flesh and bones, feelings and emotions larger than life. I don’t have only 1 favorite food or color. I love at least 100 tastes 100 songs 100 films and 100 places.
I listen to rock, jazz, classical, pop, dance and punk. I was a brunette, redhead and now a blonde. I love to dress like a hippie, elegant, punk and business. I sleep under the open sky and in 5 stars hotels. I love both the mountains and the sea. I have hitchhiked and traveled by plane at business class. I have been a fool and a genius. I have had my lows and my highs. How can you put a label on me?
How can anyone put a label on yourself when we all have millions of tastes and styles, trillions of intense moments felt and we have all lived a lifetime of emotions and a carousel of sensations?
Think Before Jumping to Conclusions
Think about this next time you are close to labeling someone… Don’t judge before truly knowing someone and don’t expect people to act like you want. You don’t get to decide about other’s feelings and emotions… Break down the stereotypes! They are only holding us down…
Watch the short inspirational video about stereotypes
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