Everyone is stereotyped, especially teens. Most students even stereotype others without realizing it.

"It’s hard not to in a school with so many kids," says sophomore Vinny Spotleson.

And of course everyone has heard the names for various groups: skaters, nerds, preppy kids and "those weird punk rockers." Students use these terms regularly.

But most students don’t feel stereotyped. "If they don’t like me, they don’t like me," says skater Taylor Patterson, a senior.

People usually create stereotypes based on what groups of kids wear, listen to or like to do. "Most groups are drawn together by common interests," says skater Ian Houseworth, a sophomore.

In fact, some students rarely venture out of set groups. "I hang out with all the cheerleaders, the football guys and student council," says junior Whitney Dommer.

John Murtaugh, a sophomore, says he hangs out with, "anyone who will talk to me."

When asked if he stereotypes others, sophomore Trent Morris replied, "Of course not. I’m a nice guy."

He was not the only one who disagreed about stereotyping others. "No — except for Star Wars fans. It’s all about Star Trek!" said Nate Henderson, a junior.

A common image of teens held by adults is that they are drug-using, hard-drinking, bad-driving, thieving, rebellious kids.

Many adults look at what teens are doing on television and judge them all by the teens portrayed on TV. They see teens causing car accidents, so by definition all teens are bad drivers. They see teens doing drugs, so teenagers are all junkies. They see teens shoplifting, so now all teenagers are thieves. They see teens making out in the hallways. Okay, so you don’t see our teachers making out in the hallways. Thank goodness!

Most adults ignore facts like adult drunk drivers causing more accidents than teen drivers do. The percent of teens that use drugs regularly is low, surprisingly, compared to some adults.

When adults were asked why they stereotype teens, many adults like Dave Talley, a parent, replied, "Teens have behaviors that never would have been tolerated when I was your age. They have colored hair, body piercing and tattoos. I just don’t understand what they’re thinking."

Stereotyping is wrong. It makes others feel left out. It can even delay otherwise long-lasting friendships. Just think, if the cheerleaders really got to know the skaters, they just might find common ground and become best friends.

It could happen.

POLL:

Are teens stereotyped by the people they hang out with?

Yes: 15 No: 17 (out of 32 kids)

-Return to October 2002 Issue-