Perpetuating Stereotypes

We all know about stereotypes. Like for example all rednecks are toothless or all chinese people wear hats that look like a gong. Stuff like that.

Where do these stereotypes come from? Are there any rednecks that have a full set of teeth? Of course there are. Do all chinese people weat gong hats and have buck teeth? Of course not. That is just silly.

But we all know that these stereotypes live on. And to some degree, they are "true". By this I mean that if I scour the deep south I can find a white guy who wears the same John Deere hat every day, chews tabakee, drives an old beat up Ford F150, wears a big ass Texas belt buckle, and has no teeth. This guy perpetuates the stereotype - totally by choice. He could wear some other hat you know.

Other stereotypes are created by parents, and installed into their children at an early age. Take this story for example, from The Miami Herald (to see it you have to click the link then click the top link on the google page, otherwise you have to register for the Herald site). In case you are too lazy to click the link, I will summarize it for you. Some parents forked out $500,000 for their daughters Bat Mitzva. This is NOT in pesos folks, this is in US dollars. One half of one million dollars. For one party. Here is a picture of the girl with her dress that cost more than my truck cost when I bought it with only 20 miles on the odometer.

This dress costs $27,000 US dollars. My truck was only $23,000 when it was brand new in 2001 (it is a 2002 model by the way). This dress, which is nothing more than cloth, cost more than my friggin vehicle. For those into such things, this is a Dolce & Gabbana gown. And that is not all! Oh no! The parents are also forking out the spread to have hip-hop artists come to the party to perform live. A DJ is not good enough for this girl.

The theme for the party is billed as "Butterflies And Bling", but I have another theme idea. "My Parents Are So Stupid That They Paid For All This Crap".

Once again, they are going to blow 1/2 a MILLION dollars on one party.

Now what stereotype are they installing in this girl? Humm lets see here, Bat Mitzvah - that means she is jewish. $500,000 party, that would make any 13 year old girl think she is the princess on Monaco or something. See where I am going on this one? You probably can.

Now before I get hate comments about how important the Bat / Bar Mitzvah is to a jewish family - I am aware of the significance. I am just saying that a perfectly good party can be had for less than $500,000. I would think that a mere pittance of $20,000 would create a pretty nice party, and leave $480,000 that could be donated to Habitat For Humanity or Doctors Without Borders or something. A house will last for more than one night.

How is this girl going to think when she is older? That she just deserves a new Bently every 5 years? Do you think that she will be rather high maintenence? Do you think she will nag whoever is dumb (and rich) enough to marry her into an early grave? Will she live up to the rich spoiled jewish girl stereotype? You tell me. Remember that for her 13th birthday party she is getting a $27,000 gown - and by the time she is 16 it will not fit her anymore. This means it will probably only be worn once.

I will write this down now, and even carve it into stone. I do not care HOW MUCH money I come into, there is no way in hell I would spend $500,000 on a 13th birthday party. No way. You want a $27,000 gown? Start flopping Whoppers when you are 8.

Who is to blame for creating this perpetuating stereotype? Whoever is laying out that $500,000.
Parents, please. Do not allow the same thing to happen to your kid. Break the stereotype cycle. If you do not, nobody will. Lets rid America of all this stupidity.