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Stereotype-phobia

Discussion in 'Chit Chat' started by sporn, Jun 6, 2015.

  1. sporn

    sporn Guest

    Stereotype-phobia is basically a phobia of proving a stereotype true. I've had this phobia since I was a child. When I was a child people thought I was autistic. One stereotype is that autistic people are good at math. I used to enjoy doing math, I stopped because I didn't want to be part of that stereotype. Anyone else have this phobia?
     
  2. LesbianThrasher

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    No, I didn't know that was even a thing lol.
     
  3. sporn

    sporn Guest

    I just made it up.
     
  4. Kaiser

    Kaiser Guest

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    If you're good at math, why would you stop pursuing that? It's a subject many hate, so being naturally good at it, will allow you more opportunities in the world.

    Some stereotypes aren't bad. It's okay to want to defy and break certain ones, like women being weak, but being exceptional at math? Come on... you're only setting yourself up for less possibilities.

    Not to cause any offense, but to make a point here, worrying and complaining is a stereotype attributed to women, hence the nagging wife role or the women-are-too-emotionally-hysterical one. Why don't you try and break these?

    Surely you can see what pieces of a stereotype are fine, and which aren't. If your goal is to avoid any and all stereotypes, you're going to fail. Anything you do, say, and present as, comes with preconceived notions and stereotypes. It's being yourself, even if you fall into some tropes and types, and showing you're more than a few assigned traits, that gives you the power to break those perceived shackles.

    You're fully capable of realizing all of this, and I suspect you do, deep down.
     
    #4 Kaiser, Jun 6, 2015
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2015
  5. sporn

    sporn Guest

    I regret not doing math anymore. Right now I'm bad at it. I guess worrying is a female trait. I think my worrying is caused by OCD, which isn't a stereotypical female trait. OCD is stereotypically autistic, but I'm not too worried about meeting that stereotype. I care about the way I look and don't act autistic, so I can afford to be a bit OCDish without seeming autistic.

    My main stereotype phobia right now is related to my sexuality. Since I'm young and feminine looking the stereotype is that I'm not actually gay. I'm just experimenting or going through a phase. That makes me not want to come out because I'm scared I'll fall for a man or that I'm in denial of liking men.

    Bisexuality is a stereotypically female sexuality, so I don't want to come out as that. I've tried coming out as bi before. It seemed to be going well at first, but whenever I showed any interest in girls people made it clear they didn't believe I actually liked girls. Calling yourself bisexual is stereotypically female, so people accepted that pretty easily. Actually liking girls isn't, so people didn't accept it.

    I kind of want to avoid labelling myself to avoid being the lesbian who falls in love with a man, but not labelling myself is stereotypically female as well. The most male thing I can do is stay in the closet and deny being gay. So it's what I'm doing for now.
     
  6. armydude

    armydude Guest

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    Well I've always tried to resist being a stereotype. Especially with sexuality but also with all other aspects of my life. I think everyone should try to avoid being a stereotype when they're aware of being one though, it puts things into perspective.
     
  7. Kaiser

    Kaiser Guest

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    You're going to learn that allowing others to control how you live, will make you miserable. Right now you're distracted with finding the right labels and not falling into certain categories, so you probably don't see how much of an issue this is becoming.

    Are you looking into some kind of therapy? Because a lot of the time, when you post a topic here, you only seem to take a little bit away from it. It feels like we're going in circles, but that makes sense. That's how OCD can work, and I understand that. But you need to take some control of your life.

    Otherwise, you're always going to be chasing your identity instead of making one.

    <3
     
  8. sporn

    sporn Guest

    I'm looking for OCD-friendly therapy, but I can't find anything. Right now I'm planning to slowly leave my current therapist because I just turned 19 and she specializes in kids and teens.
     
  9. Austin

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    Not really, I'll do what I want, for the most part, regardless of whether or not its stereotypical. I won't go out of my way to avoid stereotypes.

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Pret Allez

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