LP2 DB~

Think about a coculture (age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, race, religion, interests, etc.) with which you identify. Share some of the stereotypes that are associated with that group.

• In what ways do you conform to such stereotypes?
• In what ways do you not conform?
• Do you identify with more than one culture? If so, are there any stereotypes on your list that contradict each other?
• How might the intersection of these cultures (e.g., being a white, Christian, thirty-year-old stay-at-home-dad or a fifty-year-old Hispanic lesbian scientist) affect your perception of yourself as well as others' perceptions of you?

For example, if I were writing about Elle Woods, I might write:

Elle Woods, from the movie Legally Blonde, identifies with the co-culture of a sorority. Some stereotypes associated with sorority members are: fun, girly-girls, rich, ditzy, and image-obsessed. Elle conforms to these by being fun, girly, rich, and somewhat image-obsessed. She does not conform to these by being dumb or ditzy. Elle also is part of the co-culture of law students. Law students are stereotypically smart, serious, boring, and hard-working. Sorority member and law student clearly have some contradictory stereotypes. Internally, these intersections might affect Elle's perception of herself because she might not view herself as smart or serious enough to be a law student. Likewise, others might also perceive her as not being smart enough to go to law school (but if you've watched the movie, you know - she IS!).