Stereotypes and your feelings towards them.

[Cleopatra]

First off, I apologize if this was discussed.

There are a lot of stereotypes out there. As a straight woman, I've run into the "of course you'll have children" one and the "science is a man's career" one... I've resented them both, even though I have children now. There are many others - these are just my examples.

My question:

Do gay men and women resent their stereotypes? Or have you become so used to them, they cease to have any real meaning, besides an occasional comedic joke?

 

[AmatoriuS]

As a bisexual i resent being called greedy or people saying i'm just trying to up my chances of finding a partner, it's not a choice, just like being gay or straight isn't a choice.

My 2 Pence.

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

I'm straight.

Do you know how many times I've wished I were bi?

*heavy sigh*

But I can't make myself be something I'm not any more than anyone else on this board.

 

[Queersetti]

Overall, I believe the way you destroy the stereotypes is by mocking them. But there is an element of gallows humor to that.

The fact is, stereotyping hurts us no matter how we personally feel about it. When someone hesitates to shake my hand because they think all gay men have AIDS, or they are afraid to let me around there kids because, like some of our local crackpots here, they hold a stereotype of gays as pedophiles, it does have an emotional impact on me.

But stereotypes like being all swishy, or wanting to redecorate everyone's living room, those are just so silly that I can't help but treat them as silly.

 

[deliciously_naughty]

Although I've been known to throw a stereotype or two around at my friends in the community in humor, when it comes from people outside the community, I tend to get really upset. Sigh