The Trouble With StereoTypes

I know we hear of the dangers of stereotypes quite frequently. Yet still many people find themselves guilty of profiling us all the same.

E.G. I am a lawyer. Therefore I am a dirty, rotten scoundrel. OK maybe not. But I am often prejudged as "boring" or "stiff." One of the industries I represent is full of "characters." Partiers. TV people. Crazy business people some in for a fast buck (some not all). They don't always appreciate the lawyers in tow. Yet how many times over the last year have I heard, "You're not the typical lawyer - you're FUN!"

OK so these people don't know me, and I'm not as offended. And hey, if they hire me b/c not only am I truly brilliant - well smart maybe anyway - but I am also a person to whom they can relate, then let the others be boring if FUN gets me clients.

But when your own "Friend" of 20+ years finds the gravitational alignment of the planet to be out of whack simply because you went to see a CURE concert, well, then I am amused in an almost-offended kind of way. At least somewhat taken aback that I am still pigeon-holed.

Cutting him slack, I am somewhat of a Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Buffett, Billy Joel, Pop Rock, Country girl addict. And he saw my CD collection (ok record collection) in college. But my iPod has as much "other" stuff as any of this. I love my kids' music, I love old rock, ("classic" I believe it's now called), I even like bits of Mettalica and Linkin Park, and yes, I do like the Cure.

And yet on the other side, he of all people should know to expect the unexpected with me. I wear pink nail polish and pink toe polish while I am crucifying you on the soccer field. I bake brownies for my daughter's flute recital after being out all night salsa dancing. I hire the yardwork done but plant the gardens myself. I draft Federal Circuit briefs and read Nora Roberts romance novels. I am blond, I am not dumb. I am a lawyer, I am not boring.
I am a mom, I am not emotionally numb or without my own life/friends.

So the next time you think you know me, don't be so sure....

Small confession: I did not want to go to the Cure. My friend bought tickets for his birthday and asked me to go with him. I wasn't exactly looking forward to it, but he is a good friend, and I said I would so I went. And after the first encore I wanted to go home. But I stuck it out through all the encores because hey, who is going to walk out on a 32 year old band (the band not the guys!) when they are still rocking at 1 a.m.??? So I didn't BUY the tickets or INITIATE the concert trip, but I Went and I Had FUN!