Breaking Barriers: Are Outsiders Misjudged or Misunderstood
Are Outsiders misjudged or misunderstood? In this essay, we delve into the root causes of why individuals who are perceived as outsiders are often stigmatized or ostracized by society. We analyze the harmful effects of stereotyping and misconceptions and how they perpetuate social injustices. Additionally, we explore the experiences of those who have been marginalized and how they have been able to overcome these challenges by embracing their differences and unique perspectives. Ultimately, our essay argues that it is important to recognize and appreciate the diversity of individuals who are considered outsiders, as they often offer valuable insights and contributions that would otherwise be overlooked or ignored.
With society placing a negative stigma on people who choose to be different or do their own thing forms a sort of division, labeling these type of people as “Outsiders”. People who tend to ‘take their own path’ or ‘don’t follow in the footsteps of others’ are frowned upon by people because they are different and don’t fit in with the rest of the crowd. By creating their own journeys and being themselves they are somewhat excluded from society, but in history these such choices have led to immense amounts of success. Famous entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg were all at some point in their lives considered ‘nerds’, ‘geeks’ or ‘outsiders’ because they chose to do things their way and not follow the rest of their peers, but in the long term have become some of the most successful people on earth, all boasting multi-billion dollar franchises. So whilst the road of an ‘outsider’ might be rough, challenging, different, scary and mysterious, often times this is the best road to take as it allows one to be themselves, make their own decisions, learn from their mistakes and become pioneers of an idea or brand that has yet to be discovered.
Whilst there are many positives of being an outsider, there are many negative connotations that come along with it. Some negative connotations that come along with being an outsider may include; negative views from society, judgment, prejudice and a poor social life. When the people that surround you view you as weird, antisocial or abnormal, it can place negative thoughts in one’s mind, which it serious cases can lead to mental health illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Because nowadays we live in a society where everyone is judged for what they do wear, talk and carry themselves, people often feel neglected and their lives being under a microscope. These negative connotations can have serious detrimental effects on one’s mental health as it can cause exclusion in school or a workplace or judgement/prejudice from the people surrounding them.
Being misunderstood or misjudged is a label that unfortunately many people suffer from nowadays. Being misunderstood means to be not fully recognised or interpreted the way one wishes to project themselves. Being misjudged is when someone forms a wrongful opinion or assumption based on either what they hear or judge based upon first impressions of someone. An ‘outsider’ can be considered both of these things, both of which are negative connotations and false assumptions based on premeditated judgement. Premeditated judgement and wrongful assumption based on word of mouth are the reason ‘outsiders’ feel like social out casts and are often times considered, weird or antisocial. In conclusion, labeling one as an outsider is unjust, wrong and not fair as it labels them with all the negative connotations that follow with being misunderstood and misjudged. Exposing someone to such prejudice can not only affect their confidence and self-esteem but further scar them and trigger illnesses such as depression. Whilst being labelled an outsider is perceived as a bad thing, their happen to be a number of positive stigmas that can be derived from such a term. Being able to focus on yourself, being organized and ready for any upcoming tasks and being able to control your own destiny are all positive outcomes of being an ‘outsider’.
Lastly, misunderstanding or wrongfully judging someone are unfair and unjust ways of interacting, instead, have a conversation with the person and get to know them, because you might actually get along with them and have some common interests.
