Long story short I have an image I don’t like but from another point of view I fit it perfectly. It’s not really a negative perception but I just don’t like I’m being shoved into a stereotype. It’s even more infuriating when I try to do my best to not fit into that stereotype. But people still see me as said stereotype.
So what should one do when they have an image they don’t care for? Should they try their hardest to change it? Or maybe something else?
Keep living your life however you want to. If you lean in to it that can solidify said stereotype, if you lean away from it people can see the opportunity to bully you further with it. Grey rocking the stereotype with simple disinterested answers will lessen it’s hold over you. Like the other person said, if you’re assumed to be a mobster, saying things like “yeah people have been making that joke all my life now”, “ohh original havne’t heard that before”, “sure, watch out or I’ll get the boys onto you.” Passively engage with it giving it as little energy as possible and people will usually match that. If someone thinks they’re hit comedy gold with your stereotype ask if they’ll ever have any new material or are they planning on using the same tired joke through your entire relationship?