Social stereotypes

For some reason, we all seem to find the need to label each other. How many times has somebody put you on the spot and asked “So what are you then?”. And what are you expected to reply? Am I a townie because I own a pair of Adidas trainers or am I a grunger because I bought a rock CD? Am I a Beck because I’m Jewish or am I a trendy because I bought my bag from Topshop?

I don’t know. You tell me. The fact is, the person asking me who I am has probably categorized me already, and they will have classed me as one of the following:

First there are the townies. Townies can be recognized by the gold jewellery and sports clothes they wear, both of which cost £5 down the local market. They can be spotted in any town centre, playing garage music out of their Vauxhall Nova or sitting in any McDonald’s around the country. Townies like to show off their “bling”. After all, if you’ve got it, flaunt it. If you haven’t got it, then rob it off a passer by. This is the townie philosophy. Townies are generally given a bad name by the “rare” townie girl who try to start a fight because she thinks your skirt is too short or the “odd” townie boy who will either ask for sexual favours and/or rob you.

Join now!

Secondly, there are the grungers. There is a mutual dislike between townies and grungers. Grungers, as you can probably guess, listen to grunge music, a sub-genre of Rock. They claim to dress for comfort, not conformity. Perhaps, then, it is a coincidence that they are all wearing the same studded belt and wristband. You may find it difficult to differentiate between grunger boys and girls, as both will be wearing the same oversized jeans, Nirvana hoodie and have the same haircut.

Next are the Becks. Normally spotted in their natural habitat, Starbucks in Golders Green, Beck girls are ...

This is a preview of the whole essay