Happy to live up to a stereotype

Danni Thompson shares her thoughts on being a charity stereotype.

I’m known to many as a hippy, by the way I dress, my passion to be barefoot, and my views on the world, and have been told many times I belong in the 60s.

Stereotypes are everywhere. Just look around and I’m sure you’ll see an array of people who can be put into different groups depending on their fashion sense, music tastes or values. A wonder of the world is the variation of people within these stereotypes too. Look closer and I bet you’ll find aspects of some groups within yourself.

Despite my dislike for the need to stereotype people, I myself display traits of several stereotypes. And strangely enough, these stereotypical ideals seem to play an important part in my life and who I am.

What image comes to mind when you think of charity stereotypes? Chances are that whatever it is won’t be short of an image of who I am. And, as mentioned before, there are many variations within this particular stereotype; sandal-wearing hippies, ‘charity boy’ in his flip flops wearing a multitude of charity wristbands, and dreadlocked and pierced do-gooders and eco-warriors.

To make life so much easier for people attempting to stereotype me, I seem to be an example of all of the above. I’m known to many as a hippy, by the way I dress, my passion to be barefoot, and my views on the world, and have been told many times I belong in the 60s.

However, I also sport charity bands and, if I need to wear shoes, its flip-flops all the way. I have new born dreadlocks and I have quite a number of piercings, and finally, I love my charity causes; being vegan and buying Fairtrade products, using as little non-renewable energy as possible, campaigning and fundraising to save the rainforest and endangered animals, and getting involved in good causes closer to home, to mention a few, and of course encouraging others to do the same.

As I said before, stereotyping is not something I make a hobby of, as I’m all for being yourself. However, based on the values behind charity, this is one stereotype I’m happy to represent.