Stereo, a short film by 14-year old student Ella Fields, a participant in the Cinematic Arts Academy at Millikan Middle School in L.A., focuses on the absurdity of gender stereotypes. She was asked to create a short film about a subject she was passionate about and chose this subject, because she just feels gender stereotypes are meaningless in this day and age, because she truly believes "that anyone can wear whatever they want, and how colors should not have any gender associated with them; they are just colors." Fields wrote, directed, and edited the six-minute short. "I mainly just wanted to raise awareness of how stereotypes are meaningless. Girls can do anything boys can do, and boys can do anything we can, too." Please watch the short film (or some of it) and what do you think of the message?

In Fields' film, boys are the only ones who are supposed to wear dresses and girls are forbidden from participating in musical theater, both things the female protagonist yearns to do. "Boys and girls are separated by what they can and cannot do. It's all so boring." Do you ever still find yourself defining boys and girls by stereotypes -- such as thinking "nursing is only for women", "boys don't play with dolls", "boys play sports, not go into dance" or "girls are better teachers"?

Even though we may not consider that gender stereotypes can be all that destructive, all stereotyping can be damaging and limit people. Even positive stereotyping can be damaging. Positive stereotypes are assumptions about an entire group or identity (e.g., gay men) that are considered to be "good." Some examples of positive stereotypes of gay men: they are artsy, friendly, fun, social, well-spoken, well-dressed, well-groomed and fit. Here are ways positive stereotypes can be damaging. Which were you aware of?

Usually stereotypes (any thought widely adopted about specific types of individuals or certain ways of behaving intended to represent the entire group of those individuals or behaviors as a whole) are negative, and as such, can be very damaging. Here are some of the more common negative stereotypes that need to be shelved permanently. Do you honestly believe any of these stereotypes?

Some of the most damaging stereotypes are cultural, religious or racial stereotypes -- you are judged before you even open your mouth or get an interview because of your race, religion or cultural group. It's alarming how many people actually believe some of the cultural, religious or racial stereotypes. Do you find yourself ever believing any of these stereotypes?