Stereotypes

Stereotyping is an "oversimplified" belief about a particular type of person, often based upon shallow assumptions. It's a nasty habit that we're all guilty of participating in at some point or another, whether we want to admit it or not. It's also something that I'm sure we've all been subjected to, as well. Stereotyping takes place in all types of settings and situations. However, I think most of us would agree that high school is usually the place where these stereotypes are most prevalent. While these stereotypes that we are subjected to are often inaccurate and hurtful, they do have tendencies to follow us for a long period of time, sometimes defining which social groups we are cast into. That being said, I decided that using the five main characters of the popular 80's movie The Breakfast Club would be perfect for our lesson on stereotypes. 

"You see us as you want to see us - in the simplest terms, in 
the most convenient definitions." -The Breakfast Club

The Brain 

We've all known that one person, guy or girl, who has impeccable attendance, a perfect 4.0 GPA, and, for some unknown reason, can never seem to find any fashionable clothes to wear. They're usually well known, but highly unpopular. In this case, most of us would stereotype Brian as "the brain" or "geeky" due to his lack of stylish apparel, his awkward smile, his old-fashioned hair style, and his innocent facial expression. Because of the way all these different traits compile together, most of us would think that he "looks" smart. Thus, stereotyping him as "the brain". 

The Athlete

The "athlete" or "jock" is usually at the top of the food chain when it comes to high school politics. He/she is usually the most popular person in school, the best looking, and more times than not, is considered to be wealthy. Jocks are also often thought of as arrogant, asinine, and are stereotypically known for being unintelligent. (I'm not saying this is what I personally think, but rather what athletes are often depicted as.) Just from looking at this picture, most people would conclude Andy to be "the athlete" based on his attire, (his Nike shirt and sneakers), his unusually toned arms, and the confidence/arrogance in his facial expression. 

The Basket Case

The "basket case" or the "outcast" is also a familiar stereotype. One that, at times, most everyone can relate to. Outcasts are typically loners that often seem emotionally unstable or unsound. And, for whatever reason, they seem to always wear black. Outcasts are usually considered to be the unpopular "nobodies" in high school and, consequently, are thought of as social pariahs. Allison would be stereotyped as a "basket case" in this picture due to her slightly crazy facial expression and body language, and her all-black clothing. 

The Princess

The "princess" is your typical popular, prom queen- socialite type. She's the kind of girl that rules the school, so to speak. The princess type usually wears expensive jewelry and designer clothes to go with her shiny BMW, all of which are symbols of family wealth. The "princess" is known for always getting everything she wants, exactly when she wants it. She always seems to be having a good time, (or at least making herself look like she is.) We can tell that Claire is a "princess" based off her expensive jewelry, nice clothing, and high maintenance hair and make up. Her facial expression also adds to this stereotype. 

The Criminal

The "criminal" is your average bad boy. The one who dresses like a thug and is always getting in to some type of trouble, whether it's over fighting, smoking, or disrespecting authority. His pranks are often legendary, earning himself quite a reputation throughout his social community. The "criminal" usually comes from some sort of dysfunctional background and is often subject to financial problems. While the "criminal" is usually well-known, he's not typically popular. In fact, he is looked down upon by most of his peers and authority figures. From this picture, we can stereotype John as a "criminal" based on his raggedy-looking clothes, his shaggy hair, his troubled facial expression and lazy body posture, and the fact that he's smoking. 

Stereotyping is an easy fault to commit. I think that it's often very off-base with people's true identities. However, that doesn't stop us from doing it. I would say that, in reality, there really is a little bit of each stereotype in all of us. In the words of The Breakfast Club, "...each one of us is a brain, and an athlete, and a basket case, a princess, and a criminal."