Sterotypes And Stereotypes Of A Boy Scout

Ask anyone to describe a Boy Scout and they will probably tell you that Boy Scouts are socially awkward kids who play with knifes, fire and guns. Stereotypes are oversimplifications about groups or individuals. What makes up a stereotype is that a bit of truth is blown completely out of proportion. When stereotyping, society will see a small section of a group, and assume that the entire group fits within what has been observed. There are many different stereotypes regarding members of the Boy Scouts of America, but the most common involve cutting, destruction, fire and acting crazy. Most non-scouters also believe that Scouts are also very cliquey and don 't take kindly to outsiders. What those who hold on to the above stereotypes miss out …show more content…
However, this stereotype is contrary to the practices of safe scouting, and is in direct contrast to the rules for safe fire found in the Boy Scout Handbook. If a Scout wants to participate in building or maintaining a fire, he needs to take a safety class in order to receive a different award called “Firem’n Chit”. In the Firem’n Chit course is the scout needs to differentiate between the different types of fires that are built, and how to put them out. Once a scout knows this information, he will be tested on safety around fire, what is appropriate in a fire, and how to properly put out a fire. Once a scout completes this course he can help with the troop campfire as long as he has his card with him. But if a scout breaks any fire rules, a corner of his card gets cut. And just like with the Totin’ Chip, if all four corners of the card get cut, he will have to redo the entire …show more content…
Stereotypes are based on some truth, but that truth comprises only a very small portion of the whole, and that over emphasis on the small truth blows the truth out of proportion, making what started out as a truth to be an untruth, thus making a stereotype. Common examples of stereotypes are that all high school seniors have “senioritis” and that they do not do any school work. This is a stereotype because there is some truth to it. Sadly, a small portion of seniors seemingly give up because it is their last year in high school. However, far more common are the seniors that check their grades regularly, and make sure that they are not slipping away from being able to graduate, and attend the school of their choice for college. Most seniors realize that even though they might have been accepted to a college, admission is only granted if they maintain their coursework throughout their entire senior year. Also, many seniors are often participating in their last year of organized sports. These seniors realize that their best year of a sport could be cut short if they let their grades slip. So even though people talk about “senioritis” and have done so for generations, the reality is that for most students, their senior year of high school is very busy and filled with a mass amount of