Stereotype

Stereotype

A stereotype is a preconceived belief or decision that one holds on someone because of their appearance or by their actions. In the Bill of Rights, it says we have Freedom of Speech, so why are we so afraid to speak up for ourselves? We say that we are all equal but, there still there exists racism, sexism, and people judging others based on their religion, color, weight, how they dress, and what they eat.

External Appearances

One should never judge a book by its cover, so why do we continue to judge each other based on our external layer and appearances? This is one common stereotype that prevails in our society. Why cannot people show their sexuality freely, without worrying about being judged? Why cannot an African American move into a mostly "white" community and feel comfortable? Why cannot an overweight person walk into fitness center without feeling as if they do not belong? In today's society one can be humiliated or abused because of their race or if they are not skinny, beautiful, or straight (Wheeler, Jarvis, Petty, 2001, pp. 176).

During high school, students are stereotyped in quite a number of ways. Students are sometimes called "teacher's pet" when teachers favor some students because of their good performance or particularly when they have someone from their family or relatives on the parole of school, as teacher or principal. I would definitely not categorize such students as a teacher's pet, although all the teachers know them quite well, they literally have to walk on egg shells around many of them in order to prove themselves.

When I was a teenager, I babysat for a little boy that acted very feminine. This little boy did grow up to be gay and he decided to "come out of the closet" while still in high school. I cared for this child until he began sixth grade and although I knew he could possibly grow up to be gay, this never became a problem with how I looked at him and loved him. This was just how he was from the time he could walk, talk, and play. I know there are people that are unsure about their sexuality and experiment, but in this instance, this boy was born this way. That is who he is so with all of the stereotyping that goes on with homosexuals, it is not fair to judge those who feel ...