Conclusion

I found this to be one of the most interesting projects I have done in high school so far. It was an enlightening experience to look at Fairfield County and the world around me from a new perspective. My eyes were opened to see what kind of expectations and stereotypes preside around us and how they are fed by the media and peers. I hadn’t been so aware of how much I and others I know are shaped and influenced by these pressures. It is clear to me that though people don’t seek to fit into little categories, they often do. Many of my friends play sports and so do I and essentially we form the group of jocks. On the other hand, there are groups of hipsters who wear big sweaters, have tumblrs, and drink Starbucks and goths who wear dark clothing and makeup and listen to heavy music. These social groups often overlap greatly in Fairfield County and our school, but they are still present.
Children are taught to respect other cultures and become open-minded, particularly because we live up north in a fairly liberal area, yet many shows and media that they have access to have underlying stereotypes that are subconsciously engrained into the minds of these children. I myself witnessed it with the incident in church that involved the girl becoming distressed because she couldn’t get ahold of money. These values are present at a young age and though we believe that we are trying to educate new generations to be as unbiased as possible, that can seemingly never be achieved.
These observations have obviously come to light especially in the past days and weeks that I have been instructed to keep a careful eye and ear out for them. Though I have noticed more and more of these “normalities” it was particularly interesting when I came across an instance that proved this incorrect. When the US women’s team was so successful in the FIFA Ballon D’Or, I was both impressed and proud that they were able to dispel the common thought that women’s sports are a “joke” or unimportant. My hope is that this team will pave the way for other women’s leagues and teams around the world. As important as it is to recognize stereotypes and typical views within in a society, it is as equally crucial to be aware when these standards are defied and the effect it will have on the progression of that society.