Stereotypes are merely misconceptions based on one aspect of a whole person. Most of the time, the stereotype is so far from the truth, that it is rather insulting to the person being stereotyped. Unfortunately, there really is no escaping being stereotyped. We live in a superficial, cynical world and everyone has become a victim of being stereotyped. You can rise above it though. You should not let people like that win or have such a hold over you.

It used to be said that only blondes were beautiful. There was even that age old saying “blondes have more fun”. These days, just the opposite is being said more often. Blondes are being targeted as being less smart than brunettes or red heads. I’ve heard more “dumb blonde” jokes than I can recite back to you. Since when has the color of someones hair determined their level of intelligence? Does hair dye seep into the scalp? That’s laughable. That is almost as ignorant as being judged by the color of your skin, and not the content of your character, which is a whole other stereotype in and of itself. The juvenile stereotypes have escalated to an enormous amount of stereotyping, some that are just downright cruel. Take homosexuals, for example. There used to be an extremely cruel stereotype, that all gay men get aids. That is far from the truth. As someone in a wheelchair, I’m stereotyped every day. Some people think that just because I don’t have much use of my legs, that I have just as little use of my brain, which is far from the truth.

How do we ignore the stereotypes that are placed upon us? It’s simple really. We ignore them and rise above them. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent”. If we show that what people are saying and doing to stereotype us, hurts us, they win. We don’t have anything to prove to anyone, but ourselves. You can’t live your life for someone else. However, what you can do, is live a life full of positivity, not letting anyone sway you or knock you down. That will automatically negate any stereotypes placed upon you. Thereafter, anyone who continues to stereotype you, needs to look within themselves. Obviously, they are insecure within themselves and would rather judge someone else. The question is, why? What are they lacking, to waste their time putting so much negative attention on someone else? That person may have turned out to be their new best friend, if only they were given a chance.