The first stereotype that needs to be shattered here, is the calling of the people in this subculture “Emos”. Being someone who associated themselves with this group throughout high school, and for a couple years after, I was referred to as an Emo more times than I can count. I like to believe I have a bit of knowledge on this topic, and I mostly know that no matter how many times I say “Emo is the type of music, not the type of person!” ; it will never change the fact that this problem occurs. So I have learned to not waste so much of my breath on it.

Another headache of mine is the fact that what you see and refer to as emo today, is nothing like what it started out to be, which is why so many of the stereotypes are false. Yes “emo kids” are emotional. That is where the term originates, but not just from emotional, but from emotional hardcore, the genre of music the name actually refers to. The first “Emos” weren’t self harmers who thought about suicide all of the time. They were just able to take very hardcore punk music and put some actual emotion into it. They wrote lyrics with meaning. Lyrics that described what was happening to them in their lives. The kids who started following this sub-genre were drawn to it because they now knew that they weren’t the only ones going through a certain hard time, the people in their favorite bands were too, they had someone to share with. This doesn’t mean I think the people today are hacks, or anything. And I still don’t think that “Emos” as a whole are all overly emotional teenagers who cut their wrists and write poetry about wanting to die. I know that they do exist, I was around many of them.

Mostly, they are a group of young people who all find that their love of music (which does still exist!), their fashion sense, and a lot of times their views on life all have something in common, and it brings them together. Yes, they have emotions and they are not afraid to show it, but just because someone is Emo, doesn’t mean they are suicidal or are socially withdrawn. Concerts where emo bands perform is the perfect example of the camaraderie that exists very much within this group. I can remember going to countless shows, not just because I loved the band that was playing, but because my friends that I also loved would be there, and we would have a great time together. Singing along as loudly as possible, jumping around until we couldn’t breathe, and having so much fun it almost seems impossible. The bands played in small downtown venues and would hang out in the back of the room with the same kids they were just performing for, not thinking they were too good to be among them. I believe there is a common respect among everyone who is involved in this culture. Identifying myself within it gave me somewhere to belong when I was at an age where that was extremely crucial, and I’m not the only one.

I am not ignorant to the fact that not every stereotype about the “Emos” can be broken, I know that every person involved, including myself, gives in to at least one stereotype in their own lives. It’s bound to happen with anything though, whether you’re a jock, a skater, a punk, a prep, however you want to label someone. Yes, emo kids wear a lot of black and very bright colors, yes they wear skinny jeans and have choppy hair with bangs that cover one eye. Yes, your broken heart does make you a tad bit cooler. However; I do not believe that any of things are something to be frowned upon. Just because a cheerleader falls into the “ditzy blonde” stereotype does not mean she is a harm to herself or society. So please try to not assume because you see a teenager who looks “Emo”, that they are going to cry all over you and then slit their wrists.