Stereotyping Youths as Yobs, and the Hoodie Ban

This week’s topic is to help stop older people stereotyping all youths and teenagers as “Yobs” just because of their age, and how they dress. Constantly today, among people and the media, young people are unfairly labelled as “Yobs.”  The impression that every young person in the country is out to attack, mug or vandalise property is far from the truth. Most young people grow up without committing crime or engaging in anti-social behaviour. Youths should not be judged just because of the way they look, or the age they are. They can’t help it. It is the same as racism, discriminating normal people because they might wear hoodies, be over the age of thirteen or stand on the streets in large groups. How does this make them a yob? It is unfair to the human race. 

Here are some quotes to tell you just how strongly people feel about elders stereotyping youths as YOBS:

“The way the media publicises young people is an area of concern. They call us all yobs, when we are not…..I could put my hood up now, am I a yob? NO.”

“I want to make sure that youths get a better name and make sure we’re not called yobs or chavs or anything like that. We should not be stereotyped.”

“I am sick and tired of being called a yob, day in, day out. Just because I go into a shop with a large group of friends, we are sent out in case any of us steal. I believe we are suffering because of the minority of youths who are troublemakers.” 

The Hoodie Ban

In 2005, many shopping centres decided to introduce a ban on people wearing hooded tops whilst in the shopping centre. The reason of this ban was because of the ever-rising increase in youth crime, mainly seen as committed by youngsters wearing “hoodies.” It was argued that many people felt threatened by youngsters wearing hooded tops, as there have been so many incidences of gangs using the hoodie, to mask their identities. This ban has caused uproar in some places.  Many people feel that it is not a crime deterrent at all, but an invasion on our freedom of choice. Is it fair to label everyone who wears a hoodie as a yob? Adults don’t have a ban on what clothing they can wear in their free time, and neither do children. Why should we, just because we are now entering the teenage years, have to put up with a ban on a simple fashion statement, just because a few troublemakers have committed crimes while they happened to be wearing a hoodie!

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