Blackout Day Breaks Stereotypes

By Emily Loehmer

Blackout Day took social media by storm on March 6, focusing on how stereotypes still affect current views of people from different ethnic groups.

Not only was the acknowledgment towards the current stereotypes a refreshing change of pace, it’s impact is thought to be worth remembering. Freshman Jordan Osborn was incredibly impressed by the thought put into Blackout Day.

“Blackout Day was an important day because that was when society broke the social norm and demonstrated that beautiful can be represented in many ways,” said Osborn.

Blackout Day was successful because it had momentous support from all around the world, and the idea was quickly spread through social media. Freshman Danielle Griffin was proud of how the participants were resourceful.

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Advertisement for Blackout day.

“I’m proud of how we used social media because the world is finally recognizing and taking action on how it isn’t reasonable to hold such unreachable standards for men and women,” said Griffin.

Blackout Day also has an incredible message for anyone of any race or gender.

“Different races of men and women are all beautiful, but society teaches us that the only way you can be beautiful is if you’re a certain size or color,” said Griffin.

The stereotype that society has used to label the word beauty isn’t going to change right away, but it is incredible that it is evolving. Freshman Gwen Bundy thinks society should pay more attention to how the world is labeled.

Stereotypical results of videos that helped cause the outbreak of Blackout Day.
Shown above are stereotypical results of images found when Google searching “beautiful women.”

“The society’s definition of beauty is very small and is just one category, but that’s just not reasonable,” said Bundy.

Another pro that Blackout Day has to offer is the vast representation other cultures and races are now being given.

“It’s about appreciating and representing different races and cultures, and the people in them,” said Osborn.

While Blackout Day was a respectable success, there were still a number of people who didn’t get to participate in it because they simply didn’t know.

“If we’re lucky, Blackout Day will become a yearly thing, or maybe even monthly,” said Bundy.

Blackout Day works to show that if everyone works together, great changes and impacts can be made.