Stereotypes

I've found myself thinking a lot about our need to define ourselves or others through stereotypes. This line of thought was brought on by McCain's choice for running mate, Sarah Palin. Like me, she is a mother who cares about her children and her country. In other ways, I admire her achievements, her exercise habits, her desire to put herself in the line of fire and get involved in government and making a difference in her community. I think it was a brilliant move by McCain, but it's also caused me to reflect on how we tend to be classified by generalizations, when often there is much more to us than meets the eye.

For instance, in high school I danced on the drill team and was a cheerleader. I remember fondly being nicknamed "the Chap who's not a Chap." Our drill team was the Chaparrals, or the Chaps for short. In many ways I was like the other Chaps; I loved to dance and perform. But I liked maintaining my old friendships, I wasn't interested in being on a drill team clique. I made wonderful friends through dance, but I like having variety in my life and in my friendships. I remember being questioned about my morals (yes, some thought I was a slut just because I made drill team) when in actuality I had very little experience in relationships and all that kissing stuff. Although there may have been a few girls with loose morals, I think there was many more who were good girls. And the other thing is, what if some of the girls were a little loose? They also had a lot of other good qualities besides. And why is it that if you have a desire to be on the drill team, then you must automatically be loose?

I don't quite understand this need to label or categorize individuals. I understand that in making a stand on an issue, you align yourself with others who feel like you do. By saying, perhaps, that you're a homemaker, you can connect and relate to other homemakers or skiers or quilters or whatever. All to often though, we make decisions before we really know someone, and that label becomes a negative.

Perhaps I dislike labels because I don't like being categorized. Maybe I'll change my mind and no longer want to be a scrap-booker, instead I'll run or bike. Or maybe I just like that life has so many options, why be restricted by trying to define myself to narrowly. I mean, how do we really get to know people? I am an enigma unto myself, how could anyone else possibly have a good chance at defining me when I can barely do that myself? I don't think that's a negative, I like experiencing life and wondering what new challenges might be coming my way. Oh no! Maybe by not wanting to be stereotyped, I've fit myself into a new stereotype--the nonconforming one! Oh well, now people have a better idea of the way my thoughts get twisted in my mind. What do you think?