{Stereotypes}

So, I've been sitting here in my elephant leggings and hipster, coffee themed, oversized t-shirt while drinking my kombutcha (<- random bit of context for you) for a while thinking about The Pregnancy Project (a movie staring Alexa PenaVega; based on a true story). 

[A short synopsis for those who haven't heard of the movie, the book, or the history: A 17-year-old, attending a Washington state high-school, made her senior project a study in the treatment of pregnant teenagers in a shocking way. She stove to learn about family, friends and living beyond stereotypes.]

So, yeah, I've been thinking. Mostly about stereotypes. And whether or not they're an inherent part of society, especially a society like ours. I'm not one to just watch a movie and then write a post about how it affected me. I've done my research (and am continuing it as I'm writing this post) and this is what I've found: 

TIME.com posted an article on Ms. Gaby Rodriguez back in 2012. 

Last year, high school senior Gaby Rodriguez tucked a faux baby bump under her shirt and went to class. She attracted stares and the usual mean-spirited gossipy comments, all of which she jotted down. She then took her notes and parlayed them into a book, The Pregnancy Project, and a Lifetime movie of the same name that premieres on Jan. 28.

In her book, Rodriguez shares from the first time why she did what she did, and the explanation is a doozy: her mother, Juana, got pregnant at 14. Fourteen-year-olds are in eighth grade, for the most part. That's not even high school age. Long before she could secure a learner's permit, Rodriguez's mother was preparing to raise a child. 

"I wanted to do something that would impact my school and my community, and decided to start with something small, to bring an awareness of teen pregnancy," Rodriguez told Publisher's Weekly. "At a time in their lives when teens are becoming sexually active, they need to realise how the decisions they make now will ultimately affect their lives. And those teens who do become pregnant need to now that it's not the end of the road. They can find support for themselves and their child, and can move forward" 

Rodriguez is speaking from experience. Her mother married the 16-year-old father of her first baby and went on to have seven kids. Their three daughters (Rodriguez was born to a different father) all wound up as pregnant teens, and two of their sons got their girlfriends pregnant. All of a sudden, the reason for the book-and-movie deal is becoming clearer -  particularly since Hispanic teens like Rodriguez get pregnant more often than other minorities do. 

 (There are so many thoughts going through my head right now...!) 

It breaks my heart how many stereotypes there are not only about pregnant teens/teen pregnancy, but just stereotypes about Hispanics, African-American (or just darker-skinned people in general), people from the south, people from out west, people from the north, immigrants, Arabic, farmers, maids/janitors/cleaning crew people...I mean, gracious! Far be it from human beings to see a group of people they don't know well and NOT put some horrendous, superficial label on them, their family and anyone else like them.

You don't have to look hard before you find a PLETHORA of ridiculous, commonly-held stereotypes:

13 Myths, Misconceptions & Stereotypes about Mexican Americans

• Mexican Americans vote democrat
• Mexican Americans are Liberals
• Mexican Americans will vote for a political candidate if that candidate is Hispanic
• Mexican Americans are against border/illegal immigration control
• Mexican Americans speak and understand Spanish.
• Mexican Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day.
• Mexican Americans are Catholic.
• Mexican Americans like to dance Salsa.
• Mexicans and Central Americans are the same thing.
• Mexican Americans are loved and supported by the citizens of Mexico
• Mexican Americans love Mexican Music.
• Mexican Americans love soccer.
• Mexican American women like to cook and clean.

(I looked up pictures of "black stereotypes" and most were too lewd to post...so I figured this would do...)

ALSO, I don't exactly remember WHAT I looked up but, I found these. basically a page of pictures/memes and every one of them is some kind of stereotype about someone or some people group.

I think you get my point. WHEREVER you look, the world is filed to the brim with stereotypes. Some of them might border on truth, and others may be So far out that we'll never quite know where they originated from. BUT either way, they're there AND, whether you like it or not, they are floating around in your subconscious (or even conscious) mind.

I realise this isn't a problem I'm gonna come CLOSE to fixing in one blog post. Like really...There are DOZENS if not THOUSANDS...well maybe not *thousands*, but a very good many posts out there addressing this issue already. This is a problem that is CENTURIES deep. It's ingrained in our DNA as humans, to set up and use stereotypes as a way of categorising people. The problem is that when you cling to stereotypes as a way of seeing people, you don't see the person as a living, breathing human being with emotions and depth and a consciousness.

"I have been completely erased. I have lost everything everyone used to think about me. That I'm smart. That I'm going to have this great big future. Nobody sees me anymore. They just see this [belly]." 

- Alexa PenaVega as Gaby Rodriguez in The Pregnancy Project

As an African-American, teenage girl, I often feel like people don't look past their preconceived ideas about African-American, teenage girls to see me. Often it doesn't bother me because I've come to the decision that if someone can't accept me for who I am as purely me, then I don't need to worry myself over them...but at the same time, it bothers me. I know I don't have it as bad as most, but it does bother me. Why is it that people are ok with not seeing people as people?

It's a lot to think about and I hope I've stirred some thoughts in your head. 

Ciao!