Finding Me

Chapter 4 Stereotype

We all try to live our lives, but all we do is determined and governed by all that surrounds us. Our faith, our trust and our loyalty lies in all that surrounds us. Sometimes we get to think that the influence that all this has on us is for our own good, but rather does more damage than we might actually think. As I have indicated in the previous chapter, our lives are governed by society. We tend to behave in a certain way because of society, think in a certain way because of society, process all they offer us and be what they always wanted us to be. That’s when my concept of a filter comes in; listening to everything but actually knowing how to process it all and what to accept and what not. Because of society, we are expected to behave in a certain way, achieve within certain limits and be who they always wanted us to be. The problem is not their critics, but the position they tend to put an individual. Stereotyping is simply defined as giving an individual a certain image as to how the person behaves towards society, without actually considering the choices and decisions of the individual in question.

Stereotyping has an influence on almost every individual, as we are all expected to behave in a particular way, depending on our roles in society. Every individual has a distinct role in society, but most of all, our roles are determined by our gender. Everything we do depends on who we are biologically, and most importantly the traditions of the society we come from. This is the exact reason why conflicts between generations in society tend to break out. Our lives are already defined, all we are allowed to do is to follow what society has paved for us. For an individual who thinks more, behaves differently, and having a different identity, it is very difficult to fit into society. The basic definition of stereotyping lies in our behaviour and acceptance. But what then? Is it really just to stay locked up in a box just because people think of you in a different way, just because your behaviour is definitely failing to complement the basic principles of society, based on norms and morals?

Society always put us in certain positions just because they have certain expectations from us, our roles and how we are expected to behave, if we actually fit in, and if we are really following the pattern that has already existed. Our gender is one of the many aspects that brings in conflicts, and what actually gives us identity. If you are a guy, you need to behave in a masculine way, and always, for you are expected to display that role of being superior, powerful and always in control. What a man does directly with society depends on his physical appearances, his actions and reactions, his behaviours and how possibly he can carry himself as an individual. On the other hand, women are mostly considered as the caring and loving creatures, and they are always expected to behave in a feminine way, without question as to what they can actually achieve if they go beyond the limitations set out by society.

Traditional roles however governs our gender roles. They define who we are, where we come from and what we are basically expected to do from society. These roles are passed on from generation to generation, and one needs to follow them without question. The transition however of these roles, from generation to generation is not the same always, as there are times when a person has to accommodate other roles in life just to ensure flexibility. This is when society cages people, criticizes and question, reason being that being different is not an option, but rather following the foundation and basics that everyone follows. All this results in the control of how the person thinks, how they feel, how they behave towards society, which often leads to blocking out emotions and feelings, just because an individual is scared to be judged or questioned.

What we actually do not understand is that there is more to life than just to think from within the box. We have a lot to experience, and the journey of life requests flexibility and the ability to do beyond everyone’s expectations. We do have our roles in society, but being caged up is not an option. Pushing yourself to the edge is not an easy thing to do, but it is worth it than being locked up in your own thoughts, and doing what society regards as normal means nothing but self-failure.