*DISCLAIMER: THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS BELOW ARE SENSITIVE AND MAY BE HARMFUL OR TRIGGERING FOR SOME READERS. ALSO, MANY OF THE VIEWS SET BELOW MAY/MAY NOT RELFECT THE VIEWS OF THE AUTHOR.*
Stereotype: noun: a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
Stigma: noun: a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.
Both of these words are commonly used to define people. They are used to put people into tiny, orderly, boxes. Where we don’t belong. What we want people desprerately to know is, we’re not our stereotypes. We are so much more. Below, people randomly gave their own stereotypes using the following sentences to guide them, some asked to remain anonymous and some did not.
“Just because I’m ______ doesn’t mean ______.”
and
“______ doesn’t control or define me.”
“Just because I’m black, doesn’t mean I’m a criminal.”
-Samira Ritter
“Just becaue I’m young, doesn’t mean my opinion doesn’t matter.”
-Antwanette Scriven
“Just because I’m skinny, doesn’t mean I starve myself.”
-Gabbi Lee
“My disorder doesn’t define me.”
-Brianna Temple
“Just because I’m bisexual, doesn’t mean I’m a hoe.”
-Anonymous
“Just because I was homeschooled, doesn’t mean I don’t know how to socialize.”
-Casey Ludwick
“Just because I’m Hispanic/Latina, doesn’t mean I can only become a maid.”
-Milanys Tavarez
“Just because I’m a cheerleader, doesn’t mean I sleep around.”
-Anonymous
“Just becaue I’m bigger, doesn’t mean I’m not beautiful.”
-Aundrea Kennemore
“Just because I’m Asian, doesn’t mean I get straight A’s.”
-Sabrina Clardy
“Just because I’m blonde, doesn’t mean I’m dense.”
-Peggy Williams
“Money doesn’t control/define me.”
-Peggy Williams
“Just because I’m a Christian, doesn’t mean I’m intolerant or hateful.”
-Doug-Marley Truax
“The world’s standard of beauty doesn’t define me.”
-Doug-Marley Truax
“Just because I’m a woman, doesn’t mean I’m a lesser species than a man.”
-Allison Masters
“Just because I’m white, doesn’t mean I’m racist.”
-Anonymous
“Just because I’m a male athlete, doesn’t mean I hurt females.”
-Anonymous
“Just because I care about my grades, doesn’t mean I’m a nerd.”
-Anonymous
“Just because I’m black, doesn’t mean I believe in Black Lives Matter.”
-Anonymous
The point of this post is to publicly proclaim our stereotypes and stigmas, anonymous or not. Because, from here on out, we’re breaking our stereotypes. And we’re breaking our stigmas.
We will not be defined by society or its insane standards. We are our own person, with feelings and opinions. We do not conform and we never will. This is easily the most powerful post I’ve written, and I sincerely want to thank each and every one of you for being so bold, anonymous or not. I know some of these weren’t easy to tell, and that’s okay. But, regardless, thank you. We can change the world, and it can start here.
Have a lovely week, Collegiettes–and remember how beautiful you all are.