Have You Been Stereotyped?

Author’s note- This essay shows that defying stereotypes was one of the main themes and it stayed throughout the whole story. My purpose in writing this is to show that everyone would just like to be seen as who they really are.

           “Have you ever considered you were being judged on your looks or your actions?”  In the story The Outsiders the Greasers (which are lower class) have been and will always be condemned by society.  Defying stereotypes is when someone envisions what you are like when they don’t know much about you.  Throughout the entire story of The Outsiders almost everyone was being stereotyped. Not only were the Greasers being stereotyped but also the Socs.  No matter how peculiar we may all seem we all just want to be accepted for who we really are.

Society thought that the Greasers would never even think to do anything pleasant in their life.  No matter what a Greaser did they would always be seen as the same and a quote that really showed this was spoken by Randy and it went like this.  “You can't win, even if you whip us. You'll still be where you were before - at the bottom. And we'll still be the lucky ones with all the breaks. So it doesn't do any good, the fighting and the killing. It doesn't prove a thing. We'll forget it if you win, or if you don't. Greasers will still be greasers and Socs will still be Socs."  This really shows that society will always be against the less fortunate ones and the higher class will always be stuck with the hero act.
Society has been very brutal to many people but, being afraid to get judged was always my downfall.  All my life I have been afraid that I will mess up.  But as I got older I realized no one should live like this, not even me.  I can relate to the theme defying stereotypes because everyone always expects me to be so great at sports.  But really no one can have a great game everytime, and this makes me feel like it was my fault if we lost.  Dally and I can relate because we both put on a mask to hide my fear from showing.  People don’t understand that when you have your image set for yourself you can rarely change it.  We also are imagined as the more experienced people in everything, which isn't always true. Society is one of those things where you either love it or hate it.  But don’t let it get the best of you, just try and be yourself and don't worry about what other people think. 

 Everyone has gotten flustered at least once because they thought they would be judged by their actions.  Even though I got stereotyped, I never let it get the best of me and neither should you. Dally in the book The Outsiders  had made plenty of mistakes in his life. This set an image in his life as a bad boy or criminal.  Dally quoted in the book “I did some crazy things in New York that I will never forget.”   Dally was stereotyped; but he really is a criminal because he made some bad choices, but even he has a heart.  Just because someone may have a bad side doesn't mean they don't have a heart too.

   People stereotyping people, that is just how life is and we can never change that.  Society will always try and stand in your way.  Never be afraid to try and reach your dreams .  If you mess up that is okay, because if the people you are worried about stereotyping you really are genuine people, then they would never judge you on your one mistake.  Always remember to be yourself and don’t change to be the stereotype people make you to be.  But most important of all,we just want to be known for who we are.

Steroetyping

Author’s note- This essay shows that so many people are judged on one mistake and once someone sets an image for themselves it usually sticks with them.

 “Don’t judge a book by a cover.” Many people use this quote to show that your judgment about a book or person before could be completely different from what they are really like.  Judging something before you know more about the thing is called stereotyping and everyone does it in the world.  This is one of the themes of The Outsiders because so many people in the story got judged when they didn't really know them which is stereotyping.  Prejudgments can really hurt someone, because it can eventually limit them to what their full potential really could be.

Every little mistake can change one persons’ life forever.  Everyone has gotten nervous at least once because they thought they would get judged and they could never live it down.  Dally in the book The Outsiders has made plenty of mistakes in his life, which set an image in his life of a bad boy or criminal.  Dally even quoted in the book “I did some crazy things in New York that I could never forget.”  Misjudged is what Dally and I are because everyone thinks I am dumb because I am blonde but really I am thesmartest one in my class.  He was stereotyped too because he is a criminal but he has feelings and a heart which not alot of people realize.  Don’t be afraid to be yourself, because if someone doesn’t like the real you then they aren’t a true friend.                                                                                                                      
Stereotyping can hurt you feelings and most of the time your prejudgment is not right.  As I said in the paragraph above Dally was misjudged by many people.  Everyone has a heart and you have to remember that. Just imagine what you would feel like if someone thought you didn’t care about anything at all.  Dally loved his gang and he would do anything to protect them. That is what people didn’t know about Dally was that he really hated the Socs and society but it all boils down to Johnny and how he loved Johnny and he was heartbroken when he died.  Love is such a strong thing and everyone always has it.

         
Stereotyping is when you judge someone but don’t really know them or if it is true.  People stereotype everyone that’s how life works.  We should never do this though because so many people might get their feelings hurt and they might feel like they have to change.  Also don’t be afraid to do the things you dream about and don’t worry about messing up and people judging you because if they are a genuine person they would never judge you on one mistake.  Always remember to be yourself and don’t change to be the stereotype people make you to be.

Chapter 2.5 of the Outsiders

 Authors note: After the movie Cherry has to drive home with Bob and he does not look very happy.     

  As Bob and I drove home I couldn’t help but think about Ponyboy and what would happen to him.

“I can’t believe you were hanging out with that Greaser.” Bob sighed. 

“I don’t care that he is a Greaser!  He was nice and that is all that matters!”  I spit back with aggression. All Bob every really cares about is getting drunk and beating up kids, I thought to myself.

“Bob don’t blame those Greasers it was my idea to walk with them.” I said trying to be as convincing as possible.

“I don’t care Cherry!  It is always something knew with you, I never know what you are going to do next.” Bob argued.  It is not my fault I can find the good in everyone.  Maybe that is my problem; I care about too many people.  Bob looked really angry; I am just dreading what he will do after I get out of this Mustang.  We were only a few blocks from my house now, my palms were so sweaty is seemed as if it was raining. 

“Bob just listen to me; I know I messed up tonight but don’t do anything you will regret.  Be mad at me not at the Greaser’s even break up with me, if you want.”  I was breathing heavily now all the windows were cloudy. 

“Cherry I am not going to break up with you, and trust me I won’t do anything I will regret.”  Bob laughed.  Oh no!  We were at my house now, I was out of time.  All I can hope is that Ponyboy is at home safe.  As I got out of the car Bob had fiery in his eyes.  Every step was in slow motion as I moved towards my house. Everything started to spin around me.  It seemed as if an hour passed by the time I got to my front door.  Who knew what was going to happen as the blue Mustang sped around the corner off in the East.