During a walk through your neighborhood one sunny afternoon, you notice that several of your neighbors are outside doing yard work. You see the following people: a Jewish lawyer, a drunk Irishman, a French couple donning berets, a Native American with a full headdress doing a rain dance, and a sombrero-wearing Spanish woman holding a Chihuahua. What’s wrong with this picture? These people are all the embodiment of ethnic stereotypes. However, not all stereotypes are tied to race or ethnic backgrounds. Some stereotypes can be related to gender. For example, secretaries are more likely considered as women while doctors are thought to be men. Though times are changing and people can pursue any career they desire (or sue the company for discrimination) these stereotypes are ingrained in our minds. Perhaps the most interesting stereotypes can be seen at any high school, or any high school depicted in the movies or on television. High school students can be divided into several different peer groups. Jocks, Brains, Popular, Popular Wannabes, and Outcasts all compose a typical high school.
Jocks are all athletes and cheerleaders. People of this stereotype seem to dwell more on extracurricular activities rather than academic honors. Athletes for any sport are welcomed into the club, as are any cheerleaders for any teams. Major concerns for Jocks include “How did I look in the last game/routine/meet?” and “When is the next game/routine/meet?” Athletes and cheerleaders often date within their own social circle. They may venture our, however, to date someone from the Popular group. Jocks are most likely to be voted “Most School Spirit” or “Most Athletic.”
Brains can also be called any of the following: Geeks, Nerds, Dweebs, or Teacher’s Pets. Unlike the Jocks, this social circle enjoys the realm of academia and thrives on grades. Any score that jeopardizes the 4.0 GPA requires immediate attention and/or begging for extra credit. Major concerns for Brains include “How did I do on the last test?” and “When is the next test?” Brains are not prone to date, as this may interfere with study sessions for that next big exam. Brains can be members of clubs on campus, like the National Honor Society, the Chess Club, the Math Club, the Science Club, and the Newspaper or Yearbook organizations. Brains are most likely to be voted “Most Likely to Succeed,” “Most Dependable,” or “Most Intellectual.”
Popular people are the elitists of the high school world. They are the cool kids on campus – the ones almost everyone else longs to be. They are the trendsetters in music, fashion, and lingo. Quite often Popular people can be closet Brains. This stems from a perfectionist desire. Concerns for Popular people include “Does my hair look okay?” and “Wills standing by him or her tarnish my reputation?” Popular people date within their own social circle; however, they may date a Jock at times – but only to enhance their status. Popular people are most likely to be voted “Wittiest,” “Biggest Flirt,” or “Cutest.”
Wannabes are the stalkers of the Popular people. Perhaps the most pathetic group, they pick a Popular person and imitate them, hoping to blend in with the higher social status. Wannabes will not mind wearing the same exact outfit as someone else, rather, they seek out opportunities to do so. This idea goes against the very nature of Popular people: two Popular people would only wear the same outfit as a joke. Wannabes are also usually immature. A Wannabe may hide her Barbie doll collection from the Popular people, but would nearly have the stroke at the mere mention of selling them at a yard sale. Concerns for Wannabes include “Where’s my invitation to the Party of the Century?” and “How can I get invited to the Party of the Century since my invitation so obviously got lost in the mail?” Wannabes may date other Wannabes, but usually they don’t dare, for fear of being ostracized. Wannabes generally dream of dating someone from the Popular group. Wannabes would not be voted for anything in the “Who’s Who” because no one realizes they exist.
The last and most populous group is the Outcasts. Outcasts are Outcasts because they do not fit into any other group. The reason they do not fit in is sometimes tricky. Outcasts may exhibit some of the personality traits indigenous to the other groups, but they are rebels and would rather die than be labeled as a Jock, Brain, Popular, or a Wannabe. To the Outcasts, the other groups are deemed shallow. Extremes run rampant among the Outcasts. Some Outcasts consider themselves to be the only normal, self-respecting teenagers of the whole school and are genuinely happy with that self-image. Other Outcasts, however, despise their peon status, and have a high probability of wielding weapons on school grounds. Outcasts will commonly date another Outcast. Any Outcast dating outside of the social circle would automatically be branded a member of that group by the other Outcasts. Concerns for Outcasts include “How could I lure all the Jocks into the gym for a surprise explosion?” and “When, oh when, do I graduate?” Outcasts would also be overlooked in the “Who’s Who” selections.
Stereotypes are evident in every walk of life. They can be seen everywhere from high schools to the President. The most interesting thing about stereotypes is that it is easy to apply them to others, yet so hard to find these same stereotypes in our own selves. While it is wrong to prejudge someone and categorize them, it is fun to exaggerate and generalize traits and make jokes…or maybe that’s just the Outcast in me made manifest.
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