Tear those stereotypes down!

I know that we're programmed to think in categories, and one side effect of that is that stereotypes are inevitable.  And of course they're (often) based on some truth; we wouldn't last very long if we lived according to a whole framework of assumptions created out of thin air!  They carry you away for that...

 But there's a confusing game that we have to play every day -- confusing because we have to constantly switch how we play!  Most of the time we want to use our much stronger and more agile primary hand (right for me) which can deal with any situation with little to no thought -- but when certain targets appear we have to use our torsos: no hands allowed.  Meaning we have to slow way down and think through our every movement.

Lost in my metaphor yet?!  I know my mind works in ways that are a little mysterious to others lol; but here's the rest.  Categorization (stereotyping) is the easy way to play.  There's no point in beating yourself up about doing it, because if you didn't you'd still be trying to figure out how to get out of bed.

But we can't get lazy and forget that we're doing it, because we need to be able to recognize when it's time to put our hands behind our backs and do things the hard way.

We all know it's a safe bet that any assumption we're making based on what someone looks like has great odds on being wrong, riiight?

So here's one of the ones that are my natural enemies and that I attack on sight:  Dark-skinned women should always wear loud, brazen clothes.  Sorry if you thought it was going to be all deep and stuff lol.  But this is a serious problem!  (In my mind at least.)

 Black women, Latina women all can and do look wonderful in sweet and/ or understated and/or flowing styles.  Of course no one's saying they have to!  But those who love styles that don't fit the Bad Girl stereotype of brown women should know that they can wear what they love beautifully.  Here are some supporting images and there will be many more in the future...