Nerd Stereotypes

One good stereotype that shows up often is the narrow-minded blonde that only cares about fashion. The best example of this is Emma Ross, from Bunk'd. She dosen't understand many simple concepts, but is very knowledgeable in fashion. Next, we the Sharpettes. They only care about fashion, and therefore perfectly fit the stereotype. Lastly, we have Liv Rooney from Liv and Maddie. Maddie has an astute eye for fashion,but is very narrow-minded, and only cares about fashion. However, in one episode, they show her not as dimwitted, but as a robotics whiz, so she does have a knack for robots like her two brothers, but still has no care for robots.

Stereotypes are different thoughts that a variation of people hold about people who are different from them. A stereotype can be associated with a single word or slogan; such as nerd, or jock. Stereotypes can be expressed in either a negative or positive way. Most people apply stereotypes in a negative way to make them feel more superior over others. The category that most people would place me under would be the classification of an athlete or jock. The jock title that I have been placed under has been with me pretty much my entire life. I have played sports since I was four years old when I first started playing soccer and tee ball. From that moment on I

Stereotype; a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. In the realistic fiction novel, The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton, and in the short story, “Geeks Bearing Gifts”, written by Ron Koertge, stereotypes are defied by ordinary people. In The Outsiders, Johnny Cade and Darry Curtis face many struggles throughout their lives. Their town in separated into two: the rich and dangerous Socs, and the quiet, tough Greasers. For them, living dangerously is a reality. As a result of their lifestyle, Johnny has become fearful and Darry is considered the toughest man in the gang. In “Geeks Bearing Gifts” aspiring journalist, Renee, interviews her fellow classmates who are classified as “outcasts.” After meeting several students, she realizes her assumptions were incorrect about them. After reading both of these stories, the reader learns that our thoughts about others often revolve around stereotypes and assumptions, but most of these ideas that we have about other people are proven wrong.

“A stereotype is a rigid, oversimplified, often exaggerated belief that is applied both to an entire social category of people and to each individual within it. Stereotypes form the basis for prejudice, which in turn is used to justify discrimination and attitudes. They can be positive as well as negative.” Stereotypes exist within any social group, and social group or cliques which are groups of people who share similar characteristics and interests such as the ones priorly said.

Would you rather be a bigger nerd or a better athlete? I bet the majority of you said athlete because that is what American culture is rooted in. However, in his article “America Needs Its Nerds” (1990) Leonid Fridman proposes that “For America’s sake the anti-intellectual values that pervade our society must be fought.” By first spelling out how the meaning of the terms geek and nerd are derogatory, and secondly, explaining how at prestigious colleges “nerds are ostracized while athletes are idolized” and third, describing how other countries treat the intellectually serious– hold them and teachers above athletes– Fridman accomplishes his task. Through his utilization definition, rhetorical question, and contrast, Fridman seeks to

while "geek" conveys specialized expertise and devotion. The former is negative, the latter positive. In a 2007 interview on The Colbert Report, author Richard Clarke said the difference between nerds and geeks is "geeks get it done." (Goldsborough, 2010)

Stereotypes are uneducated opinions towards a certain group, most commonly used within races, skin colors, and cultures. Stereotypes are usually from a majority group towards a minority group. Most of us do not think about it much but, Stereotypes are in our everyday lives, and everyone has taken part of a stereotype, either they have been the one stereotyping or they have been the victim of a stereotype and has been stereotyped. Throughout my life, I have heard a lot of stereotypes towards my kind, and more than likely it is always a negative stereotype. Some stereotypes through time die-off but as they die-off, new stereotypes flood or society. I am a minority, I am Mexican-American and classify myself and embrace myself as one. The stereotype that I have experienced the most is that all Mexicans are unintelligent delinquents. The stereotype of Mexicans being unintelligent and lazy was influenced by the media. Media sources in our lives skew the way we judge people. This stereotype may be taken lightly by everyone who iterates it but what is not taken into account is the effect this stereotype has in the community for those of us that are Mexican. It has a negative impact on my community, I noticed that the negative effect of this stereotype starts by influencing a couple of individuals and then expands to the community as a whole. The stereotype that Mexicans are these unintelligent delinquents gets planted in our heads at a young age and that affects the way some of

Cardale Jones, former Ohio State University football quarterback tweets; “Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL, we ain’t come to play SCHOOL, classes are POINTLESS” . This tweet continues the stereotype that athletes are stupid and do not care about getting good grades. On average athletes have a higher grade point average than non athletes. In a recent study, it presents that college athletes had a high grade point average, averaging a 3.25, than college students, averaging a 3.01. Not all athletes fall under the dumb jock stereotype.

Fridman described the way nerds are seen “ ostracized”, meaning banish or outcast to identify the social role a nerd is. In other words, nerds are view as a discrimination. Fridman, later on, reveals that being smart can change your status from cool to loser/outcast. He introduces to the reader’s that in U.S elementary school’s, is where it all begins (when people are starting to label other’s), clarifying that it starts on an early age. Then it leads up to high schools to college. Fridman reveals, when a book is chosen over an activity, your put in a group call “ social outcast”. People also state that books can be a problem to their communication with other

The passage “America Needs its Nerds” by Leonid Fridman talks about “nerds which are the smart people and what they do different from others. Leonid Fridman develops an argument by using facts, reasoning, and his opinion. The author uses facts to develop an argument by using definitions from “websers new world Dictionary” for example the definition of geek is “is a street performer who shocks the public by biting off heads of live chickens” Geek is more known as a smart person who wears thick glasses. Leonid Fridman uses reasoning to develop an argument. Fridman talks about how some students try to keep their grades up while others pursue knowledge.

You are a normal person. You have a job and a house and friends. However, you truly love to play video games and you are a huge “nerd” in general. However, you do not ever think about telling your friends and coworkers that because you already know how people react to “gamers” or “nerds” or “geeks”. You are terrified that people will insult you and call you childish, idiotic or even stupid. You know this since you were stereotyped before of being a childish/idiotic “nerd” or “geek” or “gamer”, and know you are left with the memory of being generalized for what you like your entire life. In reality though, these stereotypes are all just false information made fact.

In the United States, to be a legend, you need to be a Babe Ruth instead of an Einstein. Leonid Fridman writes passionatley about how intellectual individuals are not given the equal amount of recognition as athletes. Fridman wants the revolution of smartness to be at the same level of athelicism. He does this by his word choice, developing a sense of feeling, and how the article is written.

The main population accused of stereotyping is teenagers; they are seen as rude and judgmental. For example, in high school the people are divided into groups by how they dress and whom they hang out with. There are the skaters, freaks, preps, snobs, cheerleaders, jocks and nerds. No one person set up

Dork, dweeb, geek, techie, or trekkie? What is a nerd? Dr. Suess first used the word “nerd” in 1950 it described a “small, unkempt, humanoid creature with a large head and a comically disapproving expression”. Newsweek, just a year later, reported the word beginning to take on a derogatory meaning as someone who is dull, and rigidly conventional. Over the next two decades, the meaning of the word did not improve. In 1971, The Observer called nerds, “people who don't live meaningful lives,” and The Chicago Tribune put it simply in 2002, “silicon valley”. Considering nerd is a slang word, the volatility of its meaning and usage is not surprising. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the meaning of the word is changing again. Behind the

Another example of a common stereotype that seems to have more negatives than positives is the millennial generation. Society oftens defines them as the generation that’s all about themselves and their own interests. People believe they are often distracted by technology (which does have truth to