She Gets Everything She Wants

What is a stereotype? According to the sociological definition of the word, a stereotype is, "a simplified and standardized conception or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group."  

One of the largest organizations one could identify several different stereotypes is in a high school situation. In a high school, you can see groups known as preps, jocks, emos, goths, and nerds.  Some of these groups of individuals are grouped together by choice, while others are thrown together and almost forced to be with one another.  

A "nerd" is one of these stereotypes that is forced to hang out and associate with other "nerds."  The, I guess you could say "definition" of a nerd is someone who does not conform to society's trends, and one who is often extremely intelligent but rejected with others because of their academic abilities.  If every other person is going to reject you and not even associate with you, why wouldn't one hang out with others that feel and are treated exactly the same way?

According to these classifications of intelligence and wanting to succeed in every subject, in high school I very well could have been a "nerd."  In fact, jokingly, I have been called such names before.  Many people never believe me when I tell them that I was Salutatorian of my class with a 3.9 grade point average, it almost seems like that fact should be completely impossible.  Along with making every grade as high as I possibly could, in high school, I also played every sport in which I was allowed.  I absolutely love fitness, being active, and competing (still do today), and I was known everywhere for being successful in volleyball, basketball, and softball.  On top of all of these athletic sports, I had a large group of friends.  I was (and still am) categorized into three different so called "stereotypes" and people did not understand that.


When reading papers about an individual having multiple stereotypes, or being in multiple social groups, I came across a finding that really shocked me, and sort of rubbed me the wrong way.  Robert J. Rydell, Sian L. Beilock, and Allen R. McConnell collectively conducted and wrote a that I came across, and what I perceived from the writing is that if an individual fits into more than one social stereotype, they are using each stereotype as a sort of crutch in order to fit in with different social groups.  If a person was in one group and did not feel fulfilled, then they would try to get into another social group, especially if they believed it would better themselves to do so in the long run.  

I completely disagree with this concept.  In high school, I did not try to force my way into multiple stereotype groups just to feel like I was socially adequate and "fit," and I did not hang out with these "stereotypical groups" just so I could somehow better myself in life, or whatever else it may be, it was simply because I liked doing the things these other individuals also liked.  Honestly, I think this is what all of the "stereotypical" ideologies originate from, it is not about the need to fit in, or the need to succeed and better some part of your life, it is only about sharing common interests with another individual or group.  After that, it is  all about the social ideas that are pushed in to our heads from the day we are born.  The snide and rude comments do not help the cause of stereotypes either:

"She's just a spoiled brat."
"He's dumber than a box of rocks."
"It's because they're rich.."
"Her favorite subject is science? What a NERD!"
"Oh he's in our group, we can just sit here and do nothing."
"Look at those scars, EMO!"
"Yes! I have an Asian lab partner!"
"She never eats lunch, she must be anorexic."
"All the popular kids drink 24/7."
"What a band geek."

To end, some more stereotypical comments from Mean Girls.

http://hpl.uchicago.edu/Publications/papers_reprints/JPSP_2009.pdf