Defying the Odds

Authors Note: This is a response to the theme stereotyping that explains how the Greasers and Soc’s are stereotyped in the book, The Outsiders.

Nick Roberts

11/17/11

I have been reading the Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton. There are many themes that can be used to describe the book. There is stereotyping, definition of family, and loss of innocence. Out of all those themes, the one that I think stands out the most is the theme of stereotyping. Stereotyping is when people see you do things; they never think that you can change. That’s what is happening to the Greasers. People in the city believe that the Greasers are low-life thugs who care nothing about others or themselves. They won’t give the Greasers a second chance.

The Greasers, a gang that have been stereotyped for many years, are trying to change. There are many Greasers that fit perfectly into the stereotype Greaser, but some of the Greasers want to change. One of the people who want to change is a kid named Ponyboy. Ponyboy a kid, who lost his parents in a car accident, lives with his two older brothers. He is a caring, loving kid who at the same time looks tough and mean when he needs to. He doesn’t pick a fight and only hurts anyone in self-defense. He is defying the stereotype Greaser and is succeeding in doing it. Ponyboy is showing the Greasers that they don’t need to be the hard, tough group who make unwise decisions and get jailed. He is showing his gang that everyone can change.

Just as the Greasers have been stereotyped, the Soc’s have been too. They are supposed to be the polite, good-hearted people who do well in school and are very rich. Really the Soc’s are people who are snobby, brats that make fun of the people who are struggling to provide for their family. Even though the Soc’s are a gang, they should have the decency to respect the struggling people. I mean making fun of the Greasers for things they can’t control is just down-right selfish and mean.

I can relate to the theme of being stereotyped or judged. Many people think that because I’m blonde, that makes e dumb when I don’t think that I am. Another way that I have been stereotyped is because I am skinny and weigh very little that I am not strong. Personally I like being stereotyped because it gives you a chance to prove yourself to them and prove them wrong in front of many people. Most every time that I have been stereotyped I have proved the other person wrong. In basketball, weightlifting, and many other places, I have been stereotyped and have proven people that I can do what they think I can’t. So I think that being stereotyped is a very good thing.

These last few paragraphs can really help you to defy the odds and become a person that can do many things. I have defied the odds and so can you. You can be a Greaser and be stereotyped and judged many times. Maybe you keep doing the same thing and people begin to judge you. It’s okay because you can try to change like the Greasers did and become a great role model. In conclusion being stereotyped is not a bad thing, just see it as a challenge and you can defy the odds and do anything you set your mind to.