Common Gender Stereotypes

Before we dive into clearing up gender stereotypes, we will need to define what a nerd is. This definition will definitely vary based on who you ask. Most agree, however, that it is often someone intelligent, yet socially awkward. My definition, which I use to approach common gender stereotypes, is a little different. I believe a nerd is someone who excels in a particular practice or school of thought. These can include video gaming, math, reading, science, computer science, maker ship, and many others. Nerds sometimes change between practices, and they often remain skilled at each practice, such as someone who is both a good maker and also a good computer worker. Usually these practices require little to no physical exertion, so the practice of playing sports is usually not associated with nerds. (Not to say nerds cannot play sports) Nerds have one focus at a time, often their free time in many other things being devoted to this focus. However these focuses can change. Nerds can be defined in many different ways but in my opinion it is someone who excels at a certain practice or school of thought, sometimes changing between different ones.

I like to think of it as a spectrum of nerdiness. The geeks, or the low-end, or obsessed with people, TV shows, anime/manga, video games (Certain franchises or characters), or a mix of them. These people can sometimes be nerdy, however, their main focus is usually on physical items, franchises, or people; real or fictional. The nerds, or the high-end of the spectrum, are, as stated before, committed to a certain practice or school of thought. The middle of the spectrum, or the all-around genius, is focused in multiple schools of thought at the time, and spends their focus between them. Everybody falls somewhere on the spectrum, and most stereotypes are formed by misunderstandings of the