Stereotyping: Navigating Teenage Identity

Research: Annabelle Poernomo

Design: Megan Zhang

Stereotypes are widely held and fixed in our society. They provide an oversimplified and generalisable image of a group, and particularly impacts the impressionable minds of adolescents within a high school environment. As teenagers grow into their identities, they often encounter societal labels that can shape their behaviours, aspirations, and self-perception. This article explores the detrimental effects of perpetuating teen stereotypes and provides insightful strategies on self-exploration, to emphasise the importance of prioritising personal goals rather than societal expectations.

Limiting Potential

Common teenage stereotypes limit teenagers to narrow frameworks including the “jock” or “nerd”. These forms of ideas are deeply ingrained in popular culture, and thus teenagers internalise these labels; this limits their exploration of interests and talents outside their assigned stereotypes, which may potentially refrain them from pursuing their passions.

Self-Esteem

Teenagers, as mentioned before, have incredibly impressionable minds and are susceptible to the opinions of their peers. Stereotyping can cause feelings of inadequacy and a pressure to conform. Those who are unable to reach the standard of a set stereotype or conform to a group can experience a decline in their self-esteem. For example, if a student is labelled as “unathletic”, they may purposely miss opportunities for physical activity and social interactions which feeds into their negative self-perception.

Social Division

Social Identity Theory, proposed by social psychologist, Henri Tajfel, suggests that people categorise themselves into different social groups to build their own social identity. This categorisation leads to a view of the world from a “us vs. them” perspective, which is often affiliated with the development of stereotypes. This form of divide can often lead to bullying and exclusion, which prevents students from forming genuine connections with their peers. Negative interactions pushed by stereotypes can create a toxic school culture and be a danger to emotional health.

Avoiding a set High School Culture

Encouraging Individuality

High schools should promote activities where students are able to explore their diverse interests and passions to ensure teenagers do not feel contained to the stereotype they “fit” into.

Modelling Positive Behaviour

Open Dialogue

Promoting Self-Exploration

Personal Goods

Teenagers should be encouraged to set their own, specific goals based on their passions, which empowers whatever they are interested in for the future. Goals should focus on a sense of accomplishment that is intrinsically motivated rather than through the approval of society.

Self-Reflection

Supportive Community

Conclusion

Within high school, the effects of stereotyping can be damaging, limiting confidence and reinforcing divides. Through promoting individuality, aspired behaviour, and safe environments, schools can help mitigate these dangers. Encouraging adolescents to explore who they are and focus on their goals, may empower them to pursue their ambitions without the weight of societal expectations. In doing so, society can pave the way in creating a more inclusive and supportive culture for young people.

Sources

Collins Dictionary. (n.d.). Stereotype. In Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/stereotype

Hogg, M. A. (2006). Social identity theory. In ScienceDirect. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/social-identity-theory

Jilani, Z. (2019, August 28). How to beat stereotypes by seeing people as individuals. Greater Good Science Center. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_beat_stereotypes_by_seeing_people_as_individuals

Moawad, H. Neurology Live. (13th October, 2016). The Brain and Nostalgia. https://www.neurologylive.com/view/brain-and-nostalgia

Liu, Y.-M. (2024, May 23). Cliquing up: High school portrayals in media create false perceptions of students, exacerbates stereotypes. The Oracle. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://gunnoracle.com/27509/uncategorized/cliquing-up-high-school-portrayals-in-media-create-false-perceptions-of-students-exacerbate