Everyone has experienced being stereotyped. Whether it's because of how you dress, your nationality, or who your friends are, people are constantly making judgments about you before they get to know you. We assume "gangsters" wreak havoc, "white people" are rich and preppy, and that "rockers" are emo.
This is how these young people spotted at Eastridge Mall say they experience stereotypes.
Larissa Logan, age 22
She says people stereotype her because of her multi-colored style.
"I don't look 'normal.' My hair is pink so they think, 'Oh she's like this or like that,' " she said. "They probably think I'm ghetto from Oakland."
Regardless of what people say about her, Logan is true to herself. "I get complimented a lot, so I like it. I don't care what people think of me."
Moises Perez, age 15
He says he's tagged as a gangster and troublemaker because of the way he dresses.
"I'm always being watched around stores. There could be other people there, but the person working will only look at me," he said.
He also said he's treated differently because he's Latino, but he says there is nothing he can do about it.
"I don't mind being stereotyped,'' he said. "But it can get to a point where I want to hit them.''
Samantha Anguelo, age 14
She says she is considered the "rocker" type. Her black clothes and style choice lead people to cast her as dark or moody.
"I was wearing a jacket that had a Heartagram, but everyone thought it was a pentagram. So they called me a devil worshipper and Goth, when it was totally not like that."
She not only gets discrimination from strangers, but also from her friends.
"My friends have tried to dress me differently, but I tell them I'm not going to dress that way just because you want me to."
Even though she has people judging her, she still expresses herself the way she wants to. "I think I'm just me. Some days I do dress emo or Goth. I just dress how I feel."
Kacie Kerro, age 23
The Hollister store manager says she's looked at as though she is "your average ditsy white girl.''
"We have typically Caucasian women working here, and people will come in, then walk right out because they don't want to be around us," Kerro said.
Many times people come into her store wanting to exchange something, but she can't do so because it is against store policy. People get mad and call her a racist or a stupid white girl. But Kerro is self-confident and doesn't take it too seriously.
"I am who I am."