Can we exist as a society without stereotypes?
Is it a means of survival? Is it part of society's NEED to label everything they don't understand?
Or is it just an unfortunate trait of our multi ethnic world that we just have to live with?
I live up to some stereotypes. I have friends who live up to their stereotypes. But, that doesn't mean we don't have a multitude of traits that make us unique and wonderful.
And unfortunately society has the tendency to focus mainly on a person's stereotypical demeanor.
BUT are ALL stereotypes bad? Or do some of them have the ability to bring us together? Perhaps, sometimes we have to embrace the stereotype. Though the overall connotation is negative and categorical, sometimes stereotypes bring us together as a culture. For example, when Will & Grace was on television, that show was nothing but stereotypes. But it was successful and it was funny and it was one of those times where the LGBT Community had to be like "What's better? No stereotypes and no visibility or some stereotypes and gay visibility?" I took the positive vote and decided that at least the community was getting representation and it was being portrayed in a positive way, even if there were stereotypes. And since we are all human beings, we are susceptible to succumbing to stereotypes. There is more than one Jack McFarland out there and you know it. HAVING SAID THAT, it doesn't mean that every gay man is like him and that doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with gay men are flamboyant .
In conclusion, perhaps not all stereotypes are bad. Sometimes they can bring us together. And we need to think of embracing them sometimes. Because when we can embrace them and make fun of ourselves, it gives us the power to move past them.
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