#notastereotype

[kjaded83]

Cuz it was 4am at the gym today that's why lol haven't done one of these progress thangs in a minute! I actually fell off the fitness wagon and gained weight back few months back but I've been on it and back at the 204 mark from 238 or something (March 2017 pic) I don't always see the change in the mirror but I'm doin the work and learning to love what I see regardless! #lvaclife #singleaf #notastereotype #theskinimin #imgoodenough #workinprogress #fitness #gaypride #melaninpoppin #lasvegas #lvac #imworthy #selflove #str8skinnygayfat #bodyimage #beforeandafter #teamcutesmile #transformationtuesday #fuckmascformasciwantcarforcarjobforjobgoodmanforgoodmannodrugsfornodrugsbitch #periodt (at Las Vegas Athletics Club 215 &Eastern) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3W5JxApL__/?igshid=g9yzo40jli9x

[allmykindsofthings]

Human... Why... I'll medidate on this on my paper bag on the couch. #notastereotype #toobusyforcatlife

[kamodo79]

Pool workout...body hurts...but it's a good pain...no...this pain is far from good... #staydope #feellinggood #competition #coachellavalley #fitness #fatboysolutions #Fatboyproblems #notsofatDaniel #beachbody #noexcuses #justresults #mensphysique #eyeontheprize #Occamsrazor #Party #GoodTimes #goodmorning #mahalo #goodvibes #weightloss #willreachmygoal #notgoingback #yes #notnormal #success #genuine #notastereotype (at La Quinta, California)

[i-once-forgot-i-have-a-brother]

My cat won't be a stereotypical cat #random #mylife #personal #cat #notastereotype

[kamodo79]

Babygirl needed a rest day. #Godisgood #Allthetime #livinglife #dope #awesome #GoodTimes #goodmorning #mahalo #Party #babygirl #pitbull #notnormal #notastereotype (at Coachella, California)

[untidysoul]

Teen parent...grown up

I was a teen parent. I was a struggling young girl, lacking self-respect and esteem, among other things. I became pregnant at 17 and had my son before I turned 18. I was a senior in high school. I had already dropped/failed nearly all of my junior year classes. I was lost, engaging in risky behavior and not giving a single F because I was prepared to end my life. That’s when found out I was pregnant. My boy saved my life and he may never know the depth of it, but I kept going for him. I temporarily got my life together (with a whole lot of help and grace) and managed to finish my high school education on time, and graduate with my class. I struggled just as much heading to the local college, still not knowing where I fit in, wanting to be a good parent but live the college life at the same time. It took me a lot longer to get my associate’s and bachelor’s degrees - 8 years total, but I did it. Not without a huge support system, a roller coaster of emotions, more bad decisions, and a second baby. I knew I needed those experiences to shape who I am today, and to encourage other people who are struggling to keep moving along. Get help, say no when necessary, and do what is best for you and your future. Every move you make has a consequence, positive or negative. You’re going to experience some tough sh*t, be heart broken, learn, and grow. Some things are completely out of your control, but you have to keep going. Keep those people close who actually truly care. Just because people expect you to F up, doesn’t mean you can’t prove them wrong - time and again. The journey is long. The bruises, scars, wrinkles, and change of heart all mean you were there, you fought and survived.

[kamodo79]

Babygirl super excited for her morning cardio #Godisgood #Allthetime #cardio #pitbull #walking #notastereotype #babygirl #coachella2016

[01crosswind]

So late last night I got in to a fight with one of my older sisters (and eventually her friend) over a photoset about the ‘we’re a culture not a costume’ movement. My sister said that people were just getting too offended by everything today and its just Halloween. So I went on to explain why some people in a culture would find certain costumes offensive, and that some cultures are fine with dressing up like them if you are doing it with respect. I kept using Native Americans as an example cause I am a Native who does not like Non-Natives dressing as us for parties/to make fun of us. She tried using Disney princesses as an example and I told her ‘No, Disney movies don’t count because they are not representing a culture. Pocahontas in the movie is not like real life Pocahontas.’ And then dragged her child in to it saying ‘So if my son wanted to be an Indian Chief, it would be offensive to Indians?’ And I told her ‘Yes actually that would be BECAUSE CHIEFS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CULTURE’ (what she failed to realize throughout the entire thing is that she too is Native American. But that might also be because she refuses to accept our mom as her mom) 

I told her that we as Americans get all pissed off and offended when outsiders make fun of us/try to act like us based off of stereotype and what not but if other cultures try to do the same its ‘they’re just offended easily, its no big deal, just a joke’. 

Meanwhile her friend is adding in on this and they’re having their own conversation. My sister goes on to say that she dressed up as a Gangster one year in a revealing outfit and everyone was fine with it. (I so wanted to tell her that it was a profession not a stereotype of one culture) And her friend went on to say that she painted her kids’ face black and he wore an afro for school and everyone was fine with it, then went on to tell me that she knew what black facing was. -.-

My sister thinks that if she says she’s not a part of that culture then those cultures shouldn’t be bothered. I told her that is exactly the problem, you’re not part of those cultures nor do you know anything about them. I told her to learn about these cultures her or the kids may dress as (Native Chiefs, Samurais, Geisha) so that they aren’t going off of just a stereotype and that they’re learning about the real culture and respecting it but I get told ‘Its just Halloween and kids, its not that big of a deal’ Had to tell them the pictures weren’t just about Halloween and that its not only kids dressing for Halloween. 

And my sister brings up Princesses. “What about Princesses? They’re a cultural thing too. “ “No Mel, Princesses were/are government figures. There are Princesses throughout all cultures, but Princesses themselves are not a culture alone.’ “Well what about Obama and the Pope?’ “1) don’t black face to be Obama. 2) Individual people are not a culture! They are just people who are part of a culture so bringing them up is pointless! But it doesn’t hurt to learn about them either!’ 

My sister eventually just gave up I guess (I get the feeling that most of my sisters actually dislike me mostly because of our parents) but her friend was still going and I got told that dressing up as a Holocaust Survivor is fine because people dress as Hitler and that is worse than dressing as a Survivor. And her friend continues to say that her ancestors were Indian and she would be glad to dress up as them to show her love of it and all that. (That wasn’t the point though was it? i never said that if you are part of that culture you couldn’t). And her friend also says (talking about in the past)  “ If people were offended back when they started dressing up, they didn't show it, or they moved on.” “OR because these cultures are minorities, they did say they did not like this BUT THEY WEREN’T LISTENED TO. But these cultures now have a platform to let themselves be heard.” And then her friend gave up...

I guess they just really don’t want to understand how other cultures feel about this.