Someone Who Inspired Me

“The reason is not I only look nice in female suit, but I look nice, so I wear like a female,” says the man in the music video showing his determination to continue his own way of life. Echoing with the man’s will to continue being himself, I was at the edge of tearing again when watching the music video in a concert.

The music video “Gypsy in Memory” (Teamear, 2013) is about the stories of pursuing a way of life of ones’ own despite facing challenges and desperations. The song is complimented by four persons of different backgrounds to enhance the feeling of desperation and determination, including the man in feminine suit. Despite disliking the work the man himself does, he needs to continue working hard in proper business suit to look for customers to support his life. However, once ended work, the man wears feminine clothes and enjoys “being a lady”. Unfortunately, he is noticed and beaten perhaps for his feminine look. Nevertheless, the man still chooses to enjoy “being a lady” bravely despite suffering the bullying. The music video successfully demonstrates how the man faces the stereotyping of the society and follows his own will liberally.

Figure 1 – Once ended work, the man wears feminine clothes and enjoys “being a lady” (Teamear, 2013)

Stereotyping allows people to simplify the society. However, it brings “social categorisation” which is the reason for “prejudice attitude”, according to McLeod (2008). We are living in the world of stereotyping, which is especially true when you feel it is the “most appropriate” for the man in the music video to have his business suit for work. Unfortunately, this is not the upper limit of stereotyping. As shown in the video, the man in feminine suit is recognised by a man who then beats him for no reason. Why does this happen? The time you can answer it, the time you have stereotyping. Unfortunately, we need to make use of our experiences to make judgements (McLeod, 2008). In this case, stereotyping is inevitable. However, if the man in the video is beaten just for his feminine look, it only reflects the intolerance of differences and non-compromising stereotyping of the bully. Similarly, when I was told to throw away my socks of several torn holes for upholding the “honour” of myself, when I was perceived “ugly” for wearing the clothes I was unwilling to throw, when I was asked to drop the fencing sport for my lack of achievements in the relevant field, when I was signalled to look for a girlfriend when someone else of my age was having their marriages, I did have the same feeling of the man in the video.

Despite facing unfair treatment due to the stereotyping, the man in the video chooses to continue following his will by going out in feminine clothes again. He is determined not to be interfered by the stereotyping of the society. “The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage” (ThinkExist.com, 2015). Caring about others’ opinions, I admire his determination. As I was at the edge of sobbing when watching the music video, my will to be myself became stronger. Understanding the prevalent existence of stereotyping in the society, I decide to bring another successful example beside the man to encourage more people to be themselves bravely.

“Everyone has the world on his shoulder”. Perhaps we have another world in our minds, we still need to continue our life with the real world (Teamear, 2013). However, inspired by the man in the video, I decide to be braver in the journey of life by following my heart. Most importantly, I should keep my stereotyping to allow people around me to be themselves. After all, “those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves”, according to Lincoln (1859), the president of America.

References

Lincoln, A. (1859). Letter to Henry L. Pierce and others. Abraham Lincoln Online. Retrieved December 3,2015 from http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/pierce.htm

McLeod, S. (2008). Stereotypes. SimplyPsychology. Retrieved December 3,2015 from http://www.simplypsychology.org/katz-braly.html  

Teamear. (2013). 陳綺貞 - 流浪者之歌 (Official Music Video) [Cheer Chen – Gypsy in memory (Official Music Video)][Online video]. YouTube. Retrieved December 3,2015 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SygkJv51Ixs

ThinkExist.com Quotations (2015). Freedom quotes. Retrieved December 3,2015 from http://en.thinkexist.com/quotations/freedom/