Change your Perceptions- #Break Stereotype

“I’m breaking stereotypes based on appearance by sharing my experience for the #IAmCapable to break stereotypes in association with Nihar Naturals.”

 

We often quote the quotes, “Looks are Deceptive”, “Never judge a book by its cover”, “Don’t judge a person by their clothes”, we keep saying these things, but in practice, we don’t adhere to them…this is the case with most people…exceptions are not included in this list.

We judge people by their looks, reach a conclusion quickly, and form an opinion of that person in the back of our minds, and it is not easy to erase it. It persists for a longer period and blocks our ability to see the facts.

I find the words of Wayne Dyer very true in this context,

“Judgments prevent us from seeing the good that lies beyond appearances.” – Wayne Dyer

The opinions we arrive at are not easy to wave off, but many instances clearly show that one should not judge by appearance but should search for that person’s real self. The opinions are formed for both sexes based on looks, but today, we are going to deal with the fair sex community. She is more chased, and it’s natural because she is the “stimulant,” a turn-on factor for men and even for women.

Don’t misinterpret my words; I have used the word “stimulant” for a woman in a positive sense.

We see a girl in shorts or jeans and decide she is unruly and not traditional, which isn’t normally the case. Attire is a personal choice and has nothing to do with morality or one’s achievements…I believe.

When I was in High School, our Principal introduced us to a lady teacher who was assigned to teach Physics. I completed my schooling at a convent school where emphasis is placed on being presentable in addition to studies. The teacher who entered our class was clad in a typical old-fashioned sari with large prints all over; in those days, fine-print saris were in vogue. We were all concerned about her appearance and concluded that she was not fit to be our teacher. Our brains had worked on the idea of appearance, and we could not gaze further; we even ridiculed our Principal for choosing her.

When she took to teaching, her expressions bewitched us, and our hearts went wild for her. Her pronunciation, persuasive power, and teaching method were exquisite. We exchanged glances with our schoolmates, all wearing the same expressions, and the whole class was impressed by her. After class, we high-fived and exclaimed loudly in unison, “Wow, looks are deceptive, and it holds for Mrs.Gupta. Our expressions echoed through the school corridor, and our Principal was standing in the classroom…Aww… it was our chance of getting punished for being unruly. She broke the stereotype, gradually changed her style of dress, mingled with the group, and became one of the smart-looking teachers.

Once, I too was a victim because of my Tomboyish style of dressing. Till tenth, I was more or less a Tomboy and followed my own set of rules. I used to be clad in jeans and a loose top and chose to sit on the tabletops rather than on chairs. I was very dominant… still, a residue of dominance remains, and I was a fan of Amitabh Bachchan, tried to copy his angry young man voice… elders scorned me with fiery eyes…I do remember their looks; they seemed like they were taken from a horror movie. The icing on the cake was that I flew kites with boys, played cricket and pittos, and felt more at ease in their company. A few submissive gals were afraid of me, or rather, their parents were afraid to befriend me.

You can well imagine my sketch embossed in the eyes of people around, be it men or women. They were sure that I could not fit into the realm of womanhood, and far-fetched were the chances that I could be versatile in the household. Onlookers painted the picture because of my style of dress, but my family was well aware of my best qualities, and I was adept at managing all spheres of life. I could clean the toilet all by myself, and the same hands moved the steering behind the wheel. The Tomboy had inherited all the qualities of a woman and a man, adept at managing the outer world. Generally, in our society, we look upon men for outer activities, but with me, I am self-sufficient, raise a child well all by myself, and manage a disorderly crowd. #Break stereotypes #IAmCapable!

I never advocate being single, but I can manage it single-handed.

The onlooker’s perception changed when I grew up to be a responsible person managing all spheres. Many pinched themselves to convince themselves that I was the same Tomboy. I want to be understood beyond stereotypes, and I ask that you not judge a person by their looks. Do read a book, don’t judge by its cover.

Not only men, but even women, pass judgment on one’s appearance and don’t try to look within or see through.

It’s time to break perceptions and #Break stereotypes based on looks and to gaze at a person’s potency within.

Every outfit carries a subtle message for those who pass judgment, and women are forced to conform to the image their appearance creates.

Not just experience, but even statistics say the same. Take a look at some of the startling figures that the Nihar Naturals #IAmCapable survey conducted by Nielsen India reveals:

a. 69% of men agree that their judgment of women is based on their looks.

b. 64% of women agree that the judgments passed on them have affected their ability to reach their true potential.

c. 70%of women agree that the majority of judgments on women are from family members or friends rather than strangers.

d. 72% of women agree that working women face more judgments on their looks or their clothes than homemakers.