Don't Assume...

I'm 20 years old. I'm a girl in college, in transition about what I know and what I believe and what I feel. Based on just that information, what would you think of me? That I think I'm always right, perhaps? That I'm extremely liberal and 'free'? That I dress in short skirts and halter tops all the time? That I am promiscuous? That I don't have any respect for those older than me?

You would be wrong on each of those.

It annoys me to no end when people make these assumptions about people just because they are in their late teen years (I consider up to 21 teen in this country, because you're still restricted by law according to your age), or even because they're female and this age. It is one of my biggest pet peeves.

Why do you think that because I was born in the late 80's, that I condone, and even participate, in the outfits that many girls wear today? I have one skirt that comes above my knees. One single skirt. I have a set of spaghetti strap tank tops. I also have two pairs of shorts that come above my knees that I wear around the house during the summer, or when I go to the pool/beach. Why on earth would I condone women wearing clothing that reveals more than should be revealed anywhere except in private? So why do older individuals think that I even watch the shows that have girls that dress inappropriately? I don't watch much TV period, and the few hours a week that I do doesn't have any of these girls on it. I'm sad when I go out in public and see little girls, maybe 8 or 9 years old, wearing shifts that show their stomachs intentionally, or other clothes that I hardly like to see on teenagers, let alone children.

And what's this whole deal with thinking that since I'm young, I must be liberal? I mean, I'm far, far more liberal than my grandparents, but I'm pretty equal to my mom. I'm very liberal in some ideas, in that I'm for gay marriage and women's rights, but I'm pretty conservative in others. I'm a moderate through and through... I don't lean to any side exclusively, but waver between the issues. Many of my friends are the same way. So why make the assumption that because I'm 20, I'm liberal?

And what about this whole deal with this idea that because I'm this 19-23 year old bracket, I must disrespect authority and think I know everything? Granted, unlike when I was little, I no longer give respect to people because they're bigger than me, but because they do something that earns respect. I don't automatically assume that someone is right, but listen if it makes sense, and investigate it if it doesn't. I know I don't know everything... in fact, I hardly know anything. I claim specialty in areas of science, because that is what I have learned the most about, but I try to back up my thoughts with published sources. Yes, I make some mistakes, and I sometimes get caught up in the heat of an argument, but who doesn't? Certainly that is not exclusive to my age group.

So why are these assumptions made? Are they even applicable to most of people in my age bracket today? Perhaps some of them, but I cannot imagine that most people in this age bracket dress slutty, are liberal, think they know everything, and disrespect authority. Of course, maybe my innocent view of people hasn't been completely lifted yet.

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