To Hell With Stereotypes
Inspired by the weekly prompt & Silvia Poldaru, MA
Prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination are three of the things I am always on the lookout for when talking to people for the first time (needless to say there won’t be a second time if any of those things flag up, or, if there is, barely any energy will be invested into the conversation). Not only do they reveal disempowering beliefs, they also signal how keen a person is to slaughter another one in their words and attitude.
Stereotypes are fast, easy and don’t require knowledge. Truth travels slower and many don’t have enough patience to wait for its arrival, which makes stereotypes a convenience. Oversimplified images are just easier to embrace, there’s no doubt about that. When your ego convinces you you’re running low on time on this planet, what else can you do but oversimplify everything at the cost of authenticity?
I unwillingly fit a lot of stereotypes.
Firstly, that of the “quiet girl”. Like Silvia Poldaru, MA stated in her article, to be quiet is perceived as something negative, as something extremely bizzare. In a world filled with meaningless chatter and noise, silence is not welcomed to sit at the table. Well…Kindly fuck your invitation, then.
Talking is not just a way to fill the silence but it is an exchange of energy. That should not be taken lightly. Not all energies match. And if our energies do not match, there is nothing wrong with remaining quiet. — Silvia Poldaru, MA
Exactly! Not all energies match and there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, I have noticed it’s becoming increasingly more difficult for me and plentiful of others who strive to engage in authentic social dynamics, to come across energies that we do match with. Once again, that’s alright. Personally, I don’t mind it anymore, because no matter how I’ve tried to look at it and tried to get around it, if it doesn’t flow, it’s not freakin’ worth it!!!
A second stereotype I unwillingly fit is that of the “ young, spiritual rebel”. Until quite recently, I used to identify myself a lot with this label, but not anymore. Breaking patterns, detecting bullshit and refusing to follow a certain path does not make me a rebel. It makes me a person who is becoming aware of stuff. Not that there’s anything wrong with the word “rebel”, it’s just that it’s yet another etiquette that people end up placing on you (and not in an encouraging way). The term “spiritual” is also often used in a sarcastic way, not to mention “young”, which is used to emphasize (in a belittling way) how inexperienced I am at 23.
It’s true, not all people I’ve met spoke that way. However, in my circle of freinds and family, these words are not used in an empowering way, so I’ve stopped identifying myself with them. They are merely judgments released trough the prism of their own stereotypes.
I could go on and on, but honestly, there’s only one conclusion to draw:
To hell with all these stereotypes!
