Quest Proposal Essay

Jeremy Fender
Comp. 1
Quest Proposal Essay
Stereotyping
Stereotyping often results from, and leads to, prejudice and bigotry which in turn can lead to discrimination. One of the most extreme cases of stereotyping occurred during the Holocaust, and is known today as genocide. Although this is an extraordinarily extreme case, stereotypes continue to hold true in today’s society. Throughout a person’s life we deal with many different stereotypes. Some of the most common stereotypes are: a person wearing glasses is smarter than one not, blondes are dumb, African Americans are better athletes, and many more. I want to take this concept of stereotyping and transform myself each week to fit a different stereotype for thirty days without changing who I am as a person.
The first stereotype that I would like to embody is the “drop-out stoner”. This stereotype is the most common one that is usually portrayed, with the exception of a “hippie stoner”, in movies. This person is the one that you see in high school ditching classes and getting into trouble. They are on a first name basis with the cops and talk with a California accent. They are also the people you hear talking primarily about marijuana, and don’t really do much to keep up their appearance. This is almost the exact same as the skateboarder stereotype. To embody this character I will utilize my long hair making this an ideal stereotype to start with. I will wear t-shirts, mainly band tees, and baggy jeans with a belt that doesn’t help keep my pants up.
The next stereotype that I will take on is the preppie. This is pretty much the polar opposite of the “drop-out stoner”, which is why it is such a unique stereotype to do next. Whereas a “drop-out stoner” doesn’t really care about their appearance, the preppie stereotype is based around appearance. A close stereotype of this would be the jock, with the exception that the preppie doesn’t necessarily play sports. In high school this would be the in crowd of people that other groups would think to have more money. They only wear clothes with a label such as Abercrombie and Fitch, Aeropostale, Hollister, and American Eagle. They take care of their hair with hair products such as gel or wax. To embody this character I will cut my hair somewhat shorter than it is, so it changes it from the stoner. I will put product in my hair to keep it where I want it. I will finish this look by wearing only name brand clothes from higher brand stores like the ones mentioned.
The third stereotype I want to portray is the Emo Goth. This is the one that will turn a lot of heads, especially after the preppie stereotype. This stereotype blends the emotion and gothic look. This stereotype is one that involves the color black. The gothic element involves black dyed hair, black nail polish, black eyeliner, black shirts, and black pants. They also love skulls and piercings. They wear converse shoes, horn-rimmed glasses, star and stripe patterns, and an accent of bright colors, usually pink, gives them the emotional effect. Another aspect that makes them an Emo Goth is that they tend to be very moody. To consume this character I will have to dye my hair black to make sure it fits the stereotype effectively. I will also paint my nails black, and apply eyeliner. To cap it all off I will wear shirts with stars and stripes on them and pants that are black, like people you see in the store Hot Topic.
The final and most controversial stereotype that I will be attempting is the dreaded neo-Nazi. This one is sure to turn heads if done correctly. I’m choosing this stereotype because it is the most extreme, and because this stereotype is actually one of the biggest contributing factors to stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. This stereotype is exemplified by a skin head or at least buzzed. They are covered in tattoos, and have no real agenda but anger and violence. They seem to always have a look of hatred on their face as well. The best representation of this stereotype is in the movie American History X, and will be the premise that I set my look on. To throw myself completely into this character I will have to shave my head. The clothing aspect will be to wear wife beaters and jeans that fit with work boots or army boots, as some wear. I already have four tattoos so that should be enough.
What I’m hoping to accomplish in the end is to prove these stereotypes still exist, and to show people that stereotyping is wrong and unjust. Just because a person changes his hair and clothes, doesn’t mean that they should be labeled as a loser, a pretty boy, a freak, or a white supremacist. In all actuality, what a person wears or how they style their hair could really just be a self-preference and what they feel comfortable in, otherwise they wouldn’t do it in the first place. At the conclusion of the thirty days, I want to unveil the nastiness of stereotyping.