Some stereotypes seem to bring instant images to mind. ‘Jock,’ ‘cheerleader,’ ‘Goth,’ ‘drama queen’ and ‘prep’ are a few that seem to have a certain type of person associated with them. But the easiest stereotype to make fun of that pervades all areas of entertainment and social life is the nerd, right? Not as much as you might think. The view of the stereotypical nerd is changing. It seems that what used to be the image of a pocket-protecting, bespectacled social outcast is now a smart, well-functioning human being, perhaps even one of the people you’d want to hang out with.

In the 70s, 80s and 90s, nerds were the subjects of many jokes, especially in the media. Movies such as Revenge of the Nerds showed the retaliation of these prosecuted intellectual prodigies against their cooler, albeit less intelligent, oppressors. Television shows such as Family Matters and Saved by the Bell featured characters who were socially detached but otherwise very smart. Steve Urkel, one of the most prominent nerds of the early 90s, was always in the way around the Winslow home. Mr. Winslow is remembered for the line “Go home, Steve!” which he uttered repeatedly in each episode. In one episode, however, Steve saved the day. He caught a thief in the grocery store while Mr. Winslow was distracted.

As the 90s came to an end, the view of nerds was beginning to change. The Y2K era was upon us, and nerds were becoming increasingly important to prevent the world from the computer apocalypse that was surely coming. At the same time, the dot-com bubble was inflating at an alarming rate. People were beginning to come to the realization that nerds were normal people too and that they were necessary for our increasingly technological society to function. Charles J. Sykes, an author of books about education in America , included in his “Top Fifteen Rules Kids Won’t Learn in School:” “Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.” The nerd you sat next to in high school could one day be the president of the company you work for. (This statement is commonly misquoted as being from Bill Gates, the most successful nerd of our time.) As the world became increasingly reliant on technology, respect for the nerd grew.

Recently, a blend of nerd and normal has emerged in the 15-25 year old crowd. If the proper balance of these two is reached, a smart person can find his or her way into any social circle in which he or she is interested. Did you notice the term “he or she” in the last sentence? That’s right; girls can be nerds too and still be socially connected. For example, Angela Montenegro of the TV show Bones, is a nerd (or ‘squint’ as it is referred to on the show), but she still goes to clubs on the weekends. The common stereotype is that only guys can be nerds in the conventional sense of the word, but this is a misinformed judgment. Some women who are now celebrities claim that they were bookworms throughout high school, and that they still enjoy reading the occasional novel or playing Mario Kart on the Wii. The stigma associated with being a nerd is slowly dissolving for both boys and girls.

Current TV shows such as The Big Bang Theory and NUMB3RS feature overly smart protagonists who always seem to get the girl or save the day. In The Big Bang Theory, one of the two main nerds, Leonard (Johnny Galecki), is constantly chasing after the attractive girl across the hall, Penny. Finally, Leonard goes out with Penny for a brief time, although it is a very unlikely and short-lived relationship. The show also depicts nerds hanging out with each other; they will try to include anyone, especially women such as Penny, in a round of Halo. In some episodes, they even succeed. The old nerd persona hasn’t faded away completely, however, for Leonard’s roommate Sheldon (Jim Parsons) is the closest thing to the old-style stereotype that you will find in the present day. Sheldon sees no need for social interaction and does not appreciate even his best friend Leonard. He treats friendship as a contractual agreement rather than a relationship. This does not serve to advance the public’s view of nerds, although it certainly puts the nerd persona into a higher profile position than it has ever been.

A show like NUMB3RS does a better job of showing nerds in a very favorable light. Charlie Epps, played by the attractive David Krumholtz, is the quintessential nerd until he begins to work with the FBI and apply his genius mathematical skills to crime solving. Charlie is the epitome of the cool nerd. He hangs out with people who were probably the jocks who would have beaten him up in high school. He has an attractive wife with whom he learned how to interact throughout the first few seasons, proving that nerds can gain social skills. The show really serves to popularize nerds and their pursuits.

The view of the nerd in popular culture has certainly changed over the years, and it is becoming more and more accepted. The media has shifted from a stance of picking on nerds like everyone else, to using them as a tool to gain audiences, reflecting the higher cultural esteem of the nerd. We all have a little bit of nerd in us here or there; it’s just a matter of finding it. Maybe it’s as simple as watching someone play video games, or perhaps giving in to a slight inclination to join the chess club. It’s okay to be nerdy! As our culture changes so will we, and this evolution will help bring out the nerd in each of us.

The Ohio State University, Autumn 2008