I have faced varieties of stereotypes in this life, including the ones I couldn't ignore but tried to explain vividly to people's understanding. It's surprising how the society just labels someone with a particular stereotype without asking questions but blindly believes whatever they wish to believe due to many reasons that don't even look justifiable.
Let me start with the stereotype I face due to where I come from. I am from Enugu State, Nigeria, Nsukka to be precise. Now, a lot of people from the Eastern region see Nsukka people as unwise humans. Due to the gravity of this stereotype and how embarrassing it usually goes in public whenever my identity is revealed, I don't always tell people my native town but just say I am from Enugu State. Like, how on earth did the society believe that my people are unwise and tag all of us unwise? This is annoying.
Unfortunately, I cannot control what goes on in the minds of people or control what their beliefs , but I deal with it in my own way. After all, I am wise and street smart; it doesn't matter what the society takes my people for.
Another type of stereotype I face is regarding my appearance. Hmm, people just see me and conclude that I am rich. I have begged God to surprise me with wealth because I am tired of this type of stereotype even when I am still that woman hustling my way to financial freedom. The worst place where this stereo affects me is in the market. Once I wear my bargaining garment,lol, market women will carry my matter on their head, and you will be hearing words like, "A fine woman like you dey price products? It doesn't fit you at all; just pay and save your time". Some of them even increase the price for me. Regular things I know the price oo, but once they see me, it's like they see a money tree.
Bad enough, I don't know what is pimple on my face; it's just a natural gift I am blessed with , not that I am using anything to prevent it, so my God-given smooth face is also putting me in trouble inside the market. Those sellers just look at me and will not want to cut the cost of things for me because they assume I have all the money on earth to look the way I am looking.
Lately, I now deliberately dress very low while going to market so I can shop like my fellow women without stress because what manner of stereotype is this?
Again, I live in Lagos State, Nigeria, with my family, and the name Lagos alone has been attracting bills on my head from my village people. People's mentality is really tiring. Once they hear that you live in Lagos, it is assumed that you are swimming inside money, and then when they ask me which part of Lagos and I say "Island", it becomes a heavy stereotype. Not all people living on the island are wealthy for God's sake!!. Besides, Islands have different parts, and I don't live in the city of the island but in a developing area, yet people inaccurately believe that I am what I am not yet; they perceive me differently with high expectations. Whether I am struggling to feed my family or pay rent and fees, it doesn't matter to them.
I have practically faced this particular stereotype countless times, but there is nothing I can do about it but attend to any financial request when I can and leave others to continue labeling me with what they assume, lol.
Overall, there's been a whole lot of misunderstanding about me due to this type of stereotype I face, and while I cannot control some of them, I simply ignore them and just be real for myself regardless of people's assumptions.
This post is in response to the #hivelearners contest on the topic tittled Stereotypes