I have been surrounded by stereotypes throughout my life, with regard to my ethnicity, along with the area in which I grew up. To me, a stereotype is a generalized message designed to classify individuals. The fear of the unknown establishes stereotypes; those with intolerant mindsets walk through society with trepidation, for fear of discovering something radically different from that which they are accustomed to. I am mixed: my mother is Indian, and my father is American of Irish descent. As a child, I was constantly exposed to Indian culture, but was raised in a primarily white, affluent part of the country. I was different from my peers, and yet, surrounded by them. Therefore, my manner of speaking is resultantly influenced by my childhood. Because of this, I’ve often been told that I “talk white” which, quite frankly, doesn’t mean anything. The way that I look differs from the way in which I present myself, and because of this, I am often stereotyped. To many, I am neither white nor brown, leaving me in a rather peculiar position in various social situations. My friendships are multicultural; I have relationships with many different types of people. However, I often develop an identity crisis of sorts, depending on the situation, and on the people with whom I am speaking.

That being said, there are multiple stereotypes about Americans, more so than the classic, hamburger-eating football fans. America is economically diverse. My high school was perceived to be “preppy and rich” by many outsiders, a stereotype which has followed me to college, although this was not the case. Certain communities and parts of America are quite modest and are often stereotyped in an insulting way. When I travel abroad, I constantly find myself somewhat ashamed of my American heritage. I know I shouldn’t feel this way. I try to assimilate as much as I can when I travel abroad, for fear of sticking out like a sore thumb. The stereotypes attached to Americans follow us wherever we go; however, I am now learning that one shouldn’t be insulted by them, but instead, should dispel the stereotype in question, and educate others, much like an individual from a different culture might educate us about their own ways of life.