Why Stereotyping is really getting on some young people’s nerves

Stereotyping is dividing people into groups and arbitrarily making assumptions based on prejudices. For young people stereotyping is unfortunately a part of their everyday life, particularly at school years 8, 9, 10 and 11. No-one is classed as being normal, because after all, what is normal?

Whether they’re a goth, emo, chav, gamer, geek, mosher, trendie, hippie or any other group, every person is targeted because of what they’re like. The Goths hate the chavs, the gamers hate the trendies, the hippies hate the emos- you get the picture.

How can we live in this world if all people do is mock people because of what they wear, what they do in their spare time, what “group” they belong to?  It’s horrible to be labelled as a geek if you come to school to learn (which may I add is what you do go to school to do!) It’s horrible to be labelled as a square if you like books and probably the most typical labels of this year- a chav or a goth because of what you wear.

In fact everybody stereotypes. We could tell you our stereotypical definition of a chav. Short skirts, tight tops, tracksuit bottoms, hangs out at McDonald’s, thinks they’re hard, wears a lot of “bling,” wears hoop earrings or sideways caps, plastered in make up, uses words like “Blingin, Mingin, Blazin” etc. We can also tell you that of course we know that most “chavs” aren’t like that.

We shouldn’t lump people into groups because they have some of the above factors. It really is brainwashing all young people. Our definition of a goth- black clothes, depressed, spiky jewellery, rock music- I could be here for days telling you all of the different factors for each stereotypical group. Even people like us, who clearly strongly disagree with stereotyping, find themselves stereotyping without realising it.

Just using any of the words for stereotypical groups means that you are automatically grouping people. Our belief is that it’s important to be your on person, and to enjoy the hobbies that you pursue for your own interest. Next time someone in your class tells you they listen to an alternative rock band, or have bought some alternative clothes don’t fall with the ignorant and automatically label them.

We need to learn to celebrate people’s differences, and to appreciate those among us who enjoy being different.