Ronnie's Blog Spot

Stereotyping and Identity

I could look at the question of ascribed and avowed identities as they pertain to me from several different angles, often depending on my own state of mind. When I am well-rested and external factors in my life are moving along in the way I desire, I will be perceived as extroverted, outgoing, communicative, self-confident, etc. in other words my avowed and ascribed identities will be in sync to paint a picture of a positive, dynamic me. Give me a day … or days when nothing seems to go right, when I haven’t gotten enough sleep, when I haven’t put on makeup, when I don’t like the clothes I am wearing, etc. I can come across as a totally different person. My avowed and ascribed persona is someone who is negative, nondescript and uncommunicative. I realize this may not be the point of this exercise but I think internal and external ups and downs influence our self-perceptions and those of others and in turn influence how we communicate and how others communicate with us.

Some of my larger difficulties in relating with others are not so much in terms of cross-cultural experiences as cross-generational experiences. For example, I have done some work as a substitute teacher in Gainesville high schools in the past year – and in the classroom am exposed to dress, language, communication styles, etc. that are anathema to me. If I see it in the movies, it’s OK. If I hear it in a song, it’s OK. If I read about it in a magazine, it’s OK. But up close and personal – I have a hard time dealing with very low-riding pants that look like they are going to fall off with the boxer shorts very exposed on a 16-year-old boy. I don’t understand the fashion sense that dictates a tight-fitting sweater, an extremely short skirt and bedroom slippers as the latest look. And I really don’t get the language where every other word seems to be a “f-this or a f-that”, whether something positive or negative is being expressed when the kids are talking with each other. Neither racial nor ethnic stereotypes come into play here since the kids I am talking about are all shapes, sizes and colors. Class stereotypes could be an influence in this, because the kids who are most engaged in the kind of behavior that I am talking about here are generally the ones who are in the drop-out prevention programs, which generally means they come from lower socio-economic backgrounds. (Or am I stereotyping here?) Still, I think it is the cross-generational barrier that predominates.

posted by Ronnie @ 9:39 PM