I hate being stereotyped. Now I’m not saying I’m a feminist or anything. Trust I am not the kinda girl that goes around telling the world that males have more rights than females. Just because of this, FEMALES are getting more and more advantages. Anyway the reason I’m talking about this is that my homeroom teacher at school said that we were going to be brainstorming about how we, as students, people. humans, get stereotyped. I mean really? Why is this done so often, you can’t just define a person by their race, looks, or interests. You can’t just simplify people. We are not math equations. We can’t be multiplied or divided.

I mainly get stereotyped for these things:

• Just because I have glasses I am defined as nerdy and super geeky.
• Just because I sometimes wear dresses I am defined as super girly.
• Just because I love art and draw a lot at school I’m defined as the “dark,” “moody,” and the “shadowy,” type. And I carry a sketchbook with me at all times.
• Just because I read books in basically all my free time I am called smart.
• Just because I’m below average height for my age I can’t be athletic.
• Just because I play an instrument I’m apparently really good at it and I ALWAYS practice.
• Just because I write sort of deep things I am a really dark and the kind of person you should stay away from.
• Since I answer a lot of hard questions in class I’m the person you should always look up to for a book report, or be partners with for an assignment.
• Jut because I may look like a seventh, or eighth grader, or a freshmen in high school in your mind. I think like one.

Sure these actually sound like compliments and actually kind of frame me, I still can’t stand it.

Now a lot of people don’t actually understand the meaning of the word “stereotype.” It merely means. “a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.” Basically it just means that a place, a thing, or even a person can be underestimated and defined just because of their looks, interests, and/or race. I mean I honestly still don’t understand most of these I mean come one. MY GLASSES ARE PRESCRIPTIVE DEAL WITH IT. Sure I am in band but, I mean I don’t always practice, and I’m not that good. And I absolutely HATE  Unicorns, glitter, neon colors, perfume, dresses. heels, makeup, etc. And yes at school I can be found drawing and/or reading a book in a corner, or the library, or during lunch, or between every period, or when I walk to my next class, and then suddenly someone randomly just pops up and asks me “Oh hey, I was just gonna ask you if we could work on that assignment together, you’re like super smart and you like aced every question in class.” My answer is always this: “Oh I am so sorry, but I’m already working with somebody. Sorry.” Those people usually find another person to work with in under a half hour.

What I’m getting at here is that people get stereotyped for so many things, gender, looks, race, interests, etc. We may even use them ourselves without even knowing it. But don’t it can hurt someone one verbally and mentally. We are who we are. And no one can simplify that.