Cartooteen save the semester with these studying tips | Page 8

“To be handsome, you have to be buff” “Girls are weak” “Boys don’t cry” We live in a world, where we are blinded by stereotypes that define the way we should behave in society. Making some people feel like outsiders because they don't fit, or don't follow them in any way. Stereotypes are a fixed image of a particular type of person or thing. The stereotypes have been in our society for many years, these have defined the actions that persons with a weak mentality do, making that the persons that don't follow them feel like they don't have a way out, or somewhere to belong. The most affected by stereotypes are teenagers, because they feel like they don't belong, and the feeling of not belonging can lead to depression, bad relationship, abuse and/or use of toxic substances. The stereotypes aren't necessary in our society, especially at this age, because it really doesn't matter being trendy or using designer clothes. Those things don't make us human beings, and they don't define who we are, because it's just material stuff, you can lose it all, and if that happens, all you have left is your personality. Authenticity and personality are the things that make us who we are, that makes us humans, those are the things that matter, not the way we dress or look, so just be who you are not matter what. STOP THE STEREOTYPES!