Popularity: A Social Construct?

#OldPost Written on April 9, 2016.

My good friend once asked me, "How are popular people considered popular? What makes them popular and us ordinary?"

There are many opinions to this question. My opinion mainly evolves around the aspect and characteristics of "popular" people. I frequently question this thought: "What do popular people have that makes them so special? Is it their social habits? Is it because they are from wealthier families? Is it because they get whatever their hearts desire?" Then, I thought to myself, well, if it's because they have lots of money, then I would be considered "popular" as well. Through my eyes, my family would be considered well-off too.

Well, if it's not the wealth that determines one's social status, is it because they have a well developed bond with almost everyone at school? If that's true, I would be considered "popular" as well because I have lots of friends and each of my friends has a special relationship with me.

Later on, as my views towards school and the social life at school got broader, I could see why there were "popular people". The students our society labeled as "popular" were "popular" because of how they reacted to everything around them. If there was a new trend, then, they would be the first ones to know about it and then everyone else would follow their example. If some other kid that was not considered "popular" were to wear something or have something that the other "popular kids" didn't have, then they would make fun of it. 

Why are the kids at school divided based upon their personalities? Such as, the "nerds", the "jocks", the "preps", the "populars", the "regulars" (whatever that means), the "emo/goths", the "geeks", etc. If we didn't have these so called "groups" to differentiate people based upon their characteristics, then maybe there would be no such thing as bullying. Think about it, what is bullying? Why do people bully others? Isn't it because we're not a certain type of person? Isn't it because we have differences that others seem to notice and then pick out? Do bullies see themselves in those they bully?

What do you think?