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Three
groups are all that's needed to 'class' a teenager nowadays. It's
sad, but the majority feel that it's true.
»Read
your comments here
Let's face it. We all hate being stereotyped by adults ("stupid
teenage vandals", "thoughtless kids" etc) so why stereotype
each other? |
| Chris
Leonard |
Even
those who deny it ferociously often place others of their own age
into a certain category, or mould them into a stereotype decided
by what they wear, how they act and who they're with.
Townies
Some
call themselves Townies with a certain pride, others react badly
to the term, and some just don't care as long as they've got the
latest pair of trainers.
Here
we have the first tell-tale sign of a judgement: style.
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| Townie
icon? Ali G |
All
the groups are separated by their own senses of style, and Townies
are generally stereotyped as permanently wearing the latest sports
gear, sometimes along with heavy jewellery - something that "Bling-Bling-King
Ali-G" picked up on and used entertainingly in his TV series.
Goths
Goths
are generally judged by their choice of alternative styles and music,
and usually stereotyped as quiet, shadow-clinging teens with wardrobes
full of black clothes.
 |
| It's
not just Goths who like Sisters of Mercy . . . |
Gigs
and festivals are places where Goths can expect to be found in big
numbers, but you see them (usually hiding in the shadows) everywhere
- even in sunny seaside Whitby, where I went on holiday this summer.
Bram
Stoker, author of Dracula, stayed there, see ...
Surfers,
Skaters and the Rest
This
final group are the misfits who can't be judged quite enough to
fit into one of the other categories.
Skaters
and Surfers are fairly self-explanatory (and have a style of their
own, with board-wear featuring heavily for both).
The
Rest are the lucky few who don't fit into any groups because of
their mixed interests.
Some
teens - shock, horror, - actually like both Goth and Townie music!
Skating AND football!
 |
| Looks
like a skater but he's an individual too |
Being
classed like this is, to say the least, annoying.
Walking
through a town centre with an apparently Gothic band-name on your
T-shirt can get you numerous shouts of abuse from crowds of Townies.
Hanging
around a gig in sportwear can have the same effect in vice-versa.
Why
can't you be an individual? Because of friends? Because of choices
in clothes and music? Precisely.
Let's
face it. We all hate being stereotyped by adults ("stupid teenage
vandals", "thoughtless kids" etc) so why stereotype each other?!
Why
not, next time, just think before you decide to make a snap judgement
about someone on first appearances? You might even learn something.
More
about the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Teens survey
Tell
us your views on this article or teen life in general and we'll
publish them on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Gloucestershire.
»Read
your comments here
|
