Popularity can be such an evil word. I mean, who could honestly say they did not want to be popular or at least liked, especially in high school. For me, I guess I can say I have seen many types of "popularity", since so far I have been to two different high schools and two different colleges. During class we all shared our experiences about popularity and our high schools. But, no one said anything similar to mine. In my town, there are four high schools, each with graduating classes or 300-400 students (crazy, I know, especially compared to those of you who said you graduated with a class of 24). But instead of having "clicks" in schools, our schools themselves were clicks. I mean, yes we had clicks inside of each school, but they were not as important as what school you went to. We had a school for the kids who liked to party and do drugs, a school for music, "weird", really super smart kids, a school for "stuck up" rich kids, and a school that mostly consisted of black or hispanic kids. First, I went to the party school, but then left and went to the school with black and hispanic kids. It felt as though you "formed" to the schools stereotype, instead of going to that school
because you were that type of kid. I find that very interesting. Also, a couple people said in class that as new students in their high schools, they were not given much attention by other students. I however was
attacked with attention (good attention, that is) when I came to my new school. It was like "Oh my gosh, new girl. Gotta go meet her!" (Not complaining, it was awesome). But still, I find it interesting the way that different schools function, and what they consider to be popular.
None of our schools really had "popular" kids. I guess the only way we considered someone popular was if they had a lot of friends, were outgoing, and like-able. I find this similar to the story we read, Bernice Bobs Her Hair, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Although Bernice was considered to be pretty, everyone still thought she was "sorta dopeless" and was "no fun on a party." This just goes to show that contrary to what many think, your appearance is not all it takes to become popular. Bernice eventually chops all her hair off into a bob hairstyle, in the name of popularity, but it all goes downhill from there, and ends up ending her moment in the spotlight. I think this gives a very positive message that appearance is not everything. In today's society, it seems we are obsessed with how we look. Reading this is refreshing in the fact that it is opposite of what society is telling us. The personality should be golden.
Example of a bob haircut from this era
I just found this awesome video that explains everything you need to know about popularity in high school. Watch it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaBljXZFcLw
I agree with what you are saying about society putting pressure on the way we look. There are advertisements everywhere targeting women. The Jean Kilbourne lecture last week showed us some examples of how the media tricks women into thinking they have to look a certain way. They promote a tooth pick waste, beautiful hair, flawless skin, and a toned body. A standard which most women could never live up to and shouldn't want. Women should love their body and focus on all their positive assets instead of focusing in on all the flaws. Humans are not perfect and we are meant to be flawed.
ReplyDeleteAs Bernice in the story tried to fit in by cutting her hair into a bob she becomes less appealing. I think this conveys that we shouldn't have to try to be popular and we should always be true to who we are. I think if we are happy and like ourselves others will like us as well. That is one thing my aunt said, "You have to love yourself before anyone else can love you". To me this holds true with anything because if we don't love ourselves others will be able to perceive that and not want to be around you. I guess someone who is popular has learned to love themselves and therefore has many friends that love her or him as well.
I find it really interesting the way you described your high schools being segregated like that. My class size was 274 which was relatively big but compared to you I feel as if it was small. I wonder if your schools were segregated the way they were by which part of town they were in? I know around me there is a district split up into three different schools and I've heard that one is more wealthy than the others and everyone I know that attends those schools put the in the same order according to which is best. Do you think you were treated so great at your new school because people knew you had come from one of the other three or was the popularity stemming more from your personality?
ReplyDeleteBernice is a perfect example of how popularity should be judged. She was a pretty girl but not favorable because he personality was 'dull.' People who have suffered because they may not look the way media tells us to should have the chance to be popular because there is much more to them than that? Had Bernice found people who appreciated the same things she did then she would have been popular among them instead of falling victim to the mean spirit of her cousin.
Nice post! Very thoughtful, and good incorporation of the reading. I'd have liked to see you delve a bit more into some layers of complexity though--of the story maybe, and how it's not entirely how it appears to be on the surface, or maybe the subtle dynamics of what it takes to get other people to like you. What's the difference between, say, mindless cliquishness and social intelligence?
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