Where Do You Fit In?

Surviving stereotypes and cliques in high school

Think about your school cafeteria. Where do you sit? Do you sit with the jocks? In the corner with the Goths? Do you not even make it to the cafeteria and stay in the library with the nerds? The answer should be that you sit with your friends. This article is about understanding and overcoming stereotypes, cliques, and exclusion. Click on any of the following questions to find the answers.

  • What is the difference between a clique and a crowd?
  • Why do we make crowds?
  • How can I be friends with two different groups?
  • Are crowds the same in every high school?
  • Is there any truth to stereotypes?
  • What are cliques?
  • How do cliques form?
  • This one girl at my school says she’s my friend but whenever I’m not around she says mean things about me. What can I do?
  • I’ve heard that girl cliques are meaner than boys’. Is this true?
  • How do stereotypes effect how we treat people?
  • How can I get people to see ME and not my stereotype?
  • Is it ever okay to discriminate based on a stereotype?
  • What if my friends and I use stereotypes to pick our friends, even when we sometimes don’t mean to?
  • References