Picture this: I'm walking around my neighborhood, wearing a brightly-colored tank top and shorts. My hair is in a ponytail, and I have a big smile on my face. I do not have any piercings, or tattoos, but I am blasting some Immortal, a Norwegian black metal band, in my earbuds. Some people would expect me to be the last person on Earth to listen to extreme music. They think that metalheads have to be tough, rebellious, and over the top. But I am not like that at all. Preconceived notions and ideas of people all fit under the umbrella of the word "stereotype." Stereotypes have been around for quite some time, and while society has made progress in decreasing them, we still have a long way to go. In this article, I will be showcasing examples of stereotypes we see all the time, and how we have tried to combat them, one step at a time.

First, stereotypes of ethnic groups are still very prominent. The hateful rhetoric of Donald Trump has not helped put a stop to stereotypes. His discriminatory views have put Muslims and Mexicans in an extremely negative and inaccurate light, and have caused people to be paranoid of them. There is still the stereotype of African-Americans as being "thugs" and "uneducated," and eating fried chicken and watermelon all the time. The media showcases Asian-Americans as being good at math, and very strict. It's appalling that it's 2016, and we still have not learned to be more considerate towards one another, and more open-minded. Stereotypes are very limiting, and are a clear example of close-mindedness. Even though the media exaggerates a lot of things, it is still very damaging to see these in this day and age. We've tried to be more progressive and have discussions about this, but they have not seemed to work.

Second, gender stereotypes are a major problem as well. If a girl is into something more masculine, then girls are seen as "tomboys" and "too wild." If a guy likes something that is deemed feminine, then guys are seen as being too weak or too sensitive. Girls and guys have been taught to act and be a certain way since birth. While gender roles have certainly improved significantly throughout history, there is still a negative stigma against guys and girls who choose to act differently and like things that are different than what their gender prescribes for them. For example, I have a good male friend of mine who likes a show on the Disney Channel called Liv and Maddie. Liv and Maddie's main audience are mostly females, but he enjoys watching the show. He believes that you should be able to enjoy what you like without gender being an issue, and I completely concur. I think that gender should not be an influence as to what you want to wear, watch, or listen to. If you are passionate about it, then that is what truly matters in the end. Several people have decided not to conform to a gender, and that concept has become more prominent. However, we still need to stop looking at gender as a huge factor of what you are interested in and want to become.

Third and lastly, even what you do as a career can be stereotyped. People think that if you are a teacher, then you're always around kids all the time, and you're never frustrated or sad, because you have "summers off." If you are an accountant, then people think you have a dull personality and are obsessed with numbers. Society does not realize that careers are diverse for everyone, and not everyone has the same experience while doing their job. I have met a lot of math majors in college, and while they love what they study, they are not "dull" or always talking and thinking about numbers. The same goes for doctors. People think that doctors are above everyone else, and that all of them are rich and successful. Many people I met who were studying to become doctors were very humble, and they were not doing it just for the money. Everyone has a different personality, and that translates over into their careers.

Overall, stereotypes have sadly become an integral part of the world. They are never-ending, and unfortunately sometimes stereotypes are all some individuals ever know. Nevertheless, my hope is that we can continue the fight for tolerance and acceptance of people for who they are. We can achieve this goal through perseverance, and positive vibes. We've come a long way, but there is still more work to be done. Let's have positive representations in place and stop making generalizations. Actions speak louder than words, so let's stop talking, and start doing!