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| “You were sent to replace me in order to do away with stereotypes, but you’re no different than that which you were to get rid of, sister. I may be a stereotypical alcoholic, misogynistic, hard-boiled detective and the women in my stories may play mindless roles without personality or ingenuity, but you represent a stereotype as much as I do. Don’t you realize that you’re nothing more than the stereotypical anti-male feminine crusader? You haven’t come and gotten rid of what is wrong, you’ve just added your own stereotype by downplaying all men as inferior and making the assumption that the cure to a gender stereotype is treating the other gender as superior. You came here to replace a stereotype, but you didn’t realize that there is a stereotype in everything. You are every bit as stereotypical as I am, but in a different role. The past injustices you cite are legitimate, but you can’t make anything better by forcing your own views upon others.” “No,” she said, her the gun shaking in her hands, “that’s not true!” From the street came the sound of approaching police sirens. “Give me the gun,” I told her, “there’s nothing you can do now.” And so the police found us, standing alone inside A-1 Trucking and Movers. Instead of a deranged, homicidal stereotype they only found a confused and visibly shaken woman, and a private investigator who had just wasted his entire day chasing a false lead and had a splitting headache to boot. Eventually, my to-be successor was charged with fraud and convicted by a jury of her stereotypical, but qualified peers. As for myself, I may never find out who was trying to rob me or why, as I was arrested in my office the following day for trespassing and assault with a deadly weapon. I guess we both learned our lesson the hard way. Stereotypes aren’t pretty, but more often than not those who try to resolve them unwittingly end up utilizing stereotypes of their own. In the end, there was no winner, and I think it will be a long time before there ever is. |
| I hope I moved you with this piece. I was a bit cynical about the assignment. Back to the main room ---> |