Trying to fit in is no longer well received, says Kaelo Tshweneyame, 15, from the Deutsche Internationale Schule. We need to be our authentic selves.
In the past, most people tried to fit in, to be like everyone else, to avoid being labelled weird.
Nowadays difference is valued.
In the past, stereotypes were widely accepted, restricting youths from expressing themselves in their own way and from being different. These stereotypes were woven into our minds for generations. An example is the typical gender stereotype of boys wearing trousers, having cropped hair and tough personalities, and girls wearing dresses and having freshly curled hair and dainty personalities.
These stereotypes have slowly been unpicked from our minds. Now we are more free to express ourselves in personality, style, music, culture, opinion and more.
Many people still try to fit in today, whether it is trying to keep up with the newest fashion trends, or slang, or listening to the new popular music artist because everyone else is. We do this because we want to be accepted by society and to be popular. People constantly feel pressured to be like everyone else because we tend to feel more confident and comfortable when we are following a crowd rather than being alone and left out.
Many would argue though that everyone looking the same is mind-numbing.
Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are what I would say help people feel more comfortable and confident in expressing themselves. These platforms have provided a space for all sorts of creators and viewers with different cultures, styles and music, to share, express and blend. Seeing other people creatively express themselves motivates and inspires us to be more unique.
Everyone is always trying to find a new way to be different. Trying to find new niche interests and styles to be admired by others. We are constantly creating new trends and evolving our fashion, because we have realised that being the same is not cool.
Our society has become more openly accepting towards diversity and encourages it confidently; whether through body positivity, embracing different sexualities, admiring other ethnicities, or empowering different races.
Research has shown that people who are more creative and unique are more likely to attract long lasting friendships than others who try to fit in. And we are more attracted to people we admire for being different and unique.
The only thing that is holding us back from being ourselves, I believe, is the fear of not being accepted by those who are also afraid of being themselves. If we all learn to openly be different and leave behind the uniform style and taste that we have been born into, we could all find inner acceptance in ourselves.
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