Modern Stereotypes

Hi bloggers!

My latest ailment, as you probably guessed.
Its about modern stereotypes. And what inspired such a blog you might ask?

I was on a train trip home today, there were some truanting schoolgirls that were at the beach and on the train trip home with me.

And nearly the whole time they were debating and coming to heated points over which 'group' of guys they think are the hottest. Which got me to thinking. Why on earth would lumping an individual into a group/stereotype/clique make them and more or less attractive than someone who would be classed as 'normal'

Being as young as I am i can at least make partial comment on this issue.
Having lived it myself and seen this way of thinking throughout my own school years.
Stereotypes seem to be a way of gaining social acceptance and identity.
In my experience music and other forms of popular culture, media, movies, TV shows have some bearing in this way of thinking. And it seems to stem from genres.

Even something as superficial as the way you dress or do your hair immediately gives people the right to lump you into a sterotype.
A side fringe and skinnies make you emo.
Baggy black trousers and a band shirt make you a metalhead or goth.
Flannelette shirt makes you a hick/bogan.
Torn jeans make you artsy or alternative.
Canterbury pants and nike cap make you a lad.
And people play on these, as i said, for a sense of identity, making it 'a way of life'
What a load of shit.

It all starts in your school years. Usually in the later primary school/early high school years.
If you are smart, your a geek or nerd.
If you are normally seen alone you are a loner.
If you are sporty, you are a jock.
If you have heaps of friends you are popular and respected.
And many other labels to give you identity in you're peeps eyes.

I have never understood how this makes people less or more attractive, and i try not to understand the minds of teenagers, hormones raging, puberty rampant.
It is a very confusing time of each of our lives.
I personally have no time for stereotypes and try to avoid them.
But as happens people will always place labels on you to define you.

I am friends with predominantly girls, some of whom are exes, so naturally im a player.
A girl has mainly guy mates, and naturally she is a slut, cause OBVIOUSLY she sleeps with them all, its all bullshit, how the hell can your social network define what sort of person you are.
And even your actions, how you act can have people define you.
And if you dont fit into the 'norm' of social structure in your younger years.
You are subject to ridicule and/or persecution and hate.

The main problem is you cannot reason with people in this mindset.
Frankly you shouldnt bother trying to either.
People are entitled to their opinions and thoughts. And we will always be labelled and stereotyped until people grow up and realise lifes too short to worry about it.

We are the way we are for a reason, we drift in and out of crowds and groups of friends.
We never truelly find a true sense of self identity until its too late.
We wander aimlessly through life searching for its meaning.
We are born, we live, we die. That's it.
Maybe im reading too much into this aspect of young life.

If you find solace and identity within a set stereotype, all the best to you.
We all find something to hold on to to give our life a meaning and purpose.
I just personally find it superficial and utterly pointless.
Ive gone from a boyband loving, eminem clothing wearing wigger, and have evolved into an almost unable to be stereotyped being, and its the difference that makes me who i am.

Maybe i can be heaped into a social category, but frankly.
It doesnt bother me. I dress comfortably. I listen to music i connect with.
I hang with a wide array of people from different nationalities, music tasted, sexuality and social status. And thats the way i like it.

I am not here to say im more right or any better than anyone else.
But really, answer me, what is the point of labels and stereotypes.
Just a thought .... thanks for reading :)