Every girl's favorite color is pink and every boy's favorite color is blue. Girls play with dolls and boys play with trucks. Boys ask girls on the date and pay. Girls cook and clean, men do all the handy work. Girls are not good at sports. Blondes are stupid and punks have mohawks. Question, says who?
We are born into a society that is already telling you what you are and are not supposed to like. When a female is born, most of the clothes, toys, and household items for the child is pink. When a male is born, everything tends to be blue. When a little girl is growing up, they assume their favorite color is pink because most everything they have is pink. Girls receive dolls and a play kitchen for gifts while boys receive trucks and toy tools. Have you ever heard someone tell a young boy they shouldn’t play with a toy because it is a girls' toy? A toy is a toy, it should not be gender oriented. Children are told not to do some things because it is not "girl like" or should "be tough and act like a man." Every person is unique in their own beautiful way. Who are we to say which toy a child is supposed to play with?
As I've grown, I've learned to take a step back and analyze the world around me. I am starting to question society and specific things I was raised to believe. Who are we to say that men shouldn’t cry? Who are you to judge your sins over mine? Who are we to judge what type of person you are by the music you listen to? Don’t even get me started on racial and cultural stereotypes. Everyone is different, yet everyone is a person and would like to be treated fairly. Love thy neighbor.
Stereotypes come in all shapes and sizes from gender profiling, sexuality, cultural, to group individualizing. “Look at all the (insert stereotype here) over there.” We are all guilty of it. What was your stereotype? Gays? Sluts? Punks? We need to understand everyone has their own lives and opinions. We all make our own choices. The choices you make do not define who you are. I will not call you my "lesbian" friend. I will not call you the "Jewish" man. I will not call you my "rich" relative. Your occupation, race, sexuality, religion, etcetera do not define you. Many people may not agree with what you do and the choices you make, however, that does not mean you should not be accepted for who you are.
In college, I cut my hair super short and donated it. I had a classmate that has never talked to me come up to me and question my sexuality. I was unaware a hairstyle automatically determined your sexuality. However, who are you to tell me what my haircut means when you don’t even know my name? I had another encounter with a father of a college student. I was his son’s orientation leader. The only time he talked to me he told me there would not have been any other reason to cut my hair short if it was not for me donating it. I’m sorry that I didn’t knock on your door and ask your permission if I should cut my hair or not. Stop judging people and their choices.
In conclusion, do not delete people on Facebook because they do not have the same political views as you. Take a step back, listen and get to know people, and stop judging. You have no idea what some people have gone through. We are all sinners and all have our own opinions. Love thy neighbor. Be friendly and understanding. Let’s defeat stereotypes together.
