Sterotypes:

Masculine, strong, athletic, attractive, popular, ladies’ man, dumb, cocky, beats up the nerd and takes his lunch money, disrespectful towards girls.

The Story:

Brad Tabor (12) is a varsity football player at PortageNorthernHigh School.  He has grown up playing numerous sports and at first glance, some may label him a “dumb jock”.  But Tabor proves to be far from this assumptive stereotype.  He takes multiple IB classes at Portage Northern and works hard to receive good grades.  And while he may be athletic and well liked by his classmates, he doesn’t beat up kids for their lunch money or entirely focus on girls and sports.

Students’ Views:

Tabor’s thoughts when asked about the jock stereotype: “[The stereotype] doesn’t really bother me at all.  I guess it’s more true for some than for others, but all stereotypes have to come from somewhere. People who play sports hang out with their teammates; they spend time together playing that sport. It’s not as bad as TV portrays it to be.”

“I don’t think the stereotypical dumb jock is what people are really like at our school.  Many athletes here are really smart.” Emma Valentine (12) [basketball player]

“Stereotypes will always be there.” Kyle Paffhausen [business teacher and women’s basketball coach]

“[Stereotypes] are a problem because some people don’t fit the stereotype they are categorized in, but are too scared to come out of that and show who they really are.” Wes Hyames (9) [soccer player]

“I think it’s a part of life that can’t be controlled.” Mia Anderson (12) [basketball player and horseback rider]

“Personally I think [stereotypes] are a good thing. But if we just assume things then we don’t get to know certain people.” Amanda Bischof (12) [basketball player and marching band member]

“There wouldn’t be stereotypes if they weren’t mostly true.  They don’t exist for everyone though.” Will Willoughby (11) [soccer player and track runner]