MCO 425

If I were to describe myself, I admit that I am more reserved than most people. But despite that, I enjoy being around people I love and going out to experience what the world has to offer. That is not typically something that people would expect from someone more on the more quiet, melancholic side, at least from my experience. 

According to my point of view, people simply viewed me as the quiet girl. People typically view quieter people as either unintelligent, doormats, boring, stuck up, and similar. Due to my meekness, it was easy for other people to take advantage of me when it came to deciding what to do for the day. Especially growing up. To this day, people in my life have tried to get away with things due to their assumption that I won’t confront them about a certain issue. I try my best to prove those people wrong if necessary. 

You see similar portrayals of who a quiet girl could be in certain movies and TV shows. One movie that features the quiet girl stereotype is Pitch Perfect. The character is named Lilly Onakuramara, played by Hannah Mei Lee. From my perspective, Lee’s portrayal of Lilly has affirmed certain assumptions about being quiet. Like many quiet individuals, she seems to be perceived as unintelligent, passive, or even aloof, which can overshadow her true qualities. Her soft-spoken nature and tendency to blend into the background sometimes make it easy for others to overlook her or take her for granted, especially in group settings. While her quirky comments add humor, they can also reinforce the idea that she’s more of an outsider than an equal participant. Despite this, Lilly’s character occasionally challenges these assumptions, showing that she’s more than just the “quiet one,” even if her moments of assertiveness are rare.

Another movie that portrays quiet women similarly to Pitch Perfect is The Breakfast Club.  Allison Reynolds’ character in The Breakfast Club portrays quiet people in a somewhat negative light, as she affirms certain stereotypes associated with introversion and social isolation. Her initial portrayal as the “basket case” reinforces the idea that quiet or withdrawn individuals are strange, attention-seeking, or emotionally troubled. Some of her behaviors, like eating bizarre food combinations or drawing disturbing images, exaggerates the misconception that quiet people are odd or disconnected from reality. Additionally, her tendency to act out for attention might suggest that quiet individuals are desperate for validation or lack self-confidence. While Allison’s character ultimately gains depth and empathy, her early depiction risks reinforcing negative stereotypes about introverted or socially isolated people.

As some of these stereotypes can be true for some people, I would say that these stereotypes fail to include so much more. In my personal experience, these stereotypes have caused more harm than good in my life, leading me to feel insecure about my personality. But thankfully, more movies have come out featuring quiet characters with characteristics that empower the character. Such as Steve Rogers in Captain America. At least for me, that has given me hope that there are people out there who respect the melancholic persona.