If teenagers don't like being stereotyped, why do some of them reinforce it by their behavior ?

Question

Such as bullying, or picking on those who are handicapped or different from them.

Answer 1

I know teens hate to be stereotyped but it is hard for adults to see them as anything else when so many act like such morons.  I hate going to our local mall because you see 13-16 year olds running around bumping into people and being loud and using bad language and just acting like a bunch of idiots.  I didn't even like most teens when i was one because of such immaturity.  I have found way to many to be self-absorbed and selfish and they just don't respect anybody or anything and I hate the way most of them dress with either pants down to their knees or skirts/shorts up to their butt cheeks.  I know that not all teens are like that as I wasn't like that as a teen and neither was most of my friends but I have unfortunately been around way to many teens that seriously lack common sense.  

Answer 2

they aren't reinforcing it they're just being them. and not everyone picks on people! god!

Answer 3

Because the acts of some shouldn't reflect the whole group. I don't do the things you said, and I don't like to be stereotyped, and I do not want to be stereotyped just because of a few people.

Answer 4

Probably cause most don't see any reason not to. Teenagers in general are very self-centered, so many end up throwing up their hands and saying "I don't care anymore", "whatever", and just go and do what they please when they encounter situations that they simply would rather not bother with. A lack of motivation to be a different is also a large factor as well. It's easier to fit in than it is to stand out in a meaningful, and not necessarily crowd pleasing, way.

When you think about it, teenagers have very shallow interests, most of which are foolish and serve no real purpose. Take for instance teenage dating, most teenagers who associate themselves as having a boyfriend or girlfriend, are generally in superfluous relationships that exist for the perception of affection, but lack any real bond. That's not to dismiss all teenage relationships as shallow and empty, but many are as such. You can also see the same in the type of careers teens aspire to be in. Many want to be actors, models, singers, fashion designers, professional athletes, or some other very difficult position to reach. Many simply lack the skills and fundamentals to ever reach these positions, but nonetheless, they do aspire to reach them. They may not even have a feasible way to reach these goals. It's not so simple as many would like to think. Nonetheless, they are certain they do have the skills, even if they really do not know any better than to realize that they don't have any hope of ever breaking into those dream careers. For those who do have the skills to reach those careers, then it will show at an early age and there will be interest from those fields in those teenagers.

Most of the time, what seems to be teenage stereotypes are more than just labels, there's actually some truth to the stereotype. That's because it is what's going on, it's not labeling more than accurately identifying the situation as it is. So it's not so much that teenagers rise to meet these so-called stereotypes, but rather, they are simply doing what they will, which often time lacks purpose or meaning, and therefore, they end up associating themselves in what appears to be a stereotype.

People bully and pick on others for one of two reasons. Either they are threatened by that person, or they feel intimidated by others who threaten them, therefore, they pick on someone they feel they can overpower. But that's not unique of teens, that goes for anyone so long as they are a human being. So in that sense, that's not really a teenage stereotype, it's something that you will find people do. But as people grow older and have a more certain identity, they feel more secure with themselves, and therefore have less reason to be threatened and threaten others.

When I address teenagers in the third person, I do include myself in that category.

Answer 5

I think teenagers have a need to call themselves a name.

I think that they act stupid to get into the society, to fit in with the peers, and even when they say they dislike to be stereotyped, they are being such big hypocrites because they dress like the others and they behave like the others.

But you know, maybe in there it's different, but here... I have a handicapped friend, she's one of my best friends and no one picks on her at our high school.

Answer 6

because they think they have to live up to the stereotype because that's what people expect from them.

Answer 7

I'm just saying it seems we focus on the bad, not the good. Do all teens reinforce the stereotype? No. Focus on that.

Answer 8

because kids like to have a lebel. it's a comfort zone.

they act like they hate steriotypes, but they reinforce it to avoid being pushed into the awkward territory of unique-ness.

hahaha. imma teenager... i know these things.

xD

Answer 9

not every teenager does this so why put them in a catagory as a whole.... yea there are some teens who are horrible.... but out of all the ages there are people that do the same things that teens do... so why does it always get thrown back on teens.... it seems like teens get all the hatrid comments and picked on the most when older people as well as younger do the same exact thing...  

Answer 10

one of the big reasons is cuz they feel since they are being told they do that then they might as well do it whether they were doing it in the first place or not. basically their trying to live up to the stereotype that was put on them.

one of my best friends was labeled as a bully and i know for a fact she never bullied anyone. but she felt since she was labeled that she might as well be a bully. she has since stopped. but still thats a reason why