Countering the Stereotype: The "Vain" Uni

Before I go any further, I have to acknowledge the seed of truth behind the stereotype of the vain Uni. When we were first introduced, we wanted to make a good impression on the world and thus spent a bit of a time ensuring we looked our best. I can see how that preening and grooming could be considered vanity, I can. For some people, their only exposure to Unis might be via the Grooming Shop trader; again, I can see why it might then be assumed that we as a whole species are obsessed with accessories and make up. There are certainly vain Unis in Neopia. But I personally also know vain Kyrii, Wocky, Cybunny, Draik…I’d struggle to think of a species who I hadn’t met at least one vain pet, to be honest. So why is it that we Uni should be the ones singled out for being particularly vain?

One of the ideas that I want to pose to the general public though this article is whether perceived vanity of Unis or ANYONE should be stigmatised anyway. At what point do we judge what is self-esteem and self-love compared to vanity? It’s sad to see so many out there who are too hard on themselves, and have difficulties seeing their own unique value. If someone feels good in themselves, and it’s not hurting anyone, it doesn’t feel right for society to belittle them for this. Where would we draw the line about healthy self-image and what is “too far”, what is unacceptably vain? There’s so much grey area, it’s such a very personal issue. My belief is simply that being happy with who you are, in whatever form that takes (including accessories and make up), isn’t something that we should quash. Labelling it as “vain” only promotes shame. Let’s be done with that.

Aside from that, though, are the countless examples of Uni who do not embody the stereotype; as a child, I grew up loving the story of Tawnia in particular. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, Tawnia was a Uni who didn’t mind getting grubby and didn’t care what others thought about it. One day she found a mysterious artifact, and sold it; she realised the error of selling it and courageously sought to make things right again, saving the day and being acknowledged by Jhuidah herself for her deeds. There was so much about her that just resonated with me. A bit rough and tumble; unafraid of the judgement of others; a curious mind; and a brave resolve- Tawnia represented what I wanted to become. She was, to me, the Uni ideal. So when I first started meeting the playground taunts of other Neopets, the accusations of being “ditzy” and “stuck up”, I was confused. Those descriptions didn’t match the Unis I knew in my stories, or in my life.

So I tried to educate my peers about Tawnia, thinking it would help shift their ignorance. When that didn’t work, I eventually learned to ignore the teasing. It still hurt though, knowing that everyone else had such strong misconceptions about my species. I felt like I couldn’t be myself- a bit of a tomboy who enjoys adventure and sport- without being judged as trying to pretend to be something I’m not supposed to be. Having a professional Uni athlete in Valtonous Rea (Team Faerieland) didn’t help with this either, as Uni detractors attributed her variable goal keeping as proof of our species’ perceived inability to be good at anything other than looking pretty. I’m a Lost Desert supporter myself, but have to give Valtonous Rea props for getting out there and following her dream, despite what others think. I think it’s summed up pretty well in a statement she gave after Team Faerieland’s disastrous Altador Cup IV showing, where they had a record 27 days without a win:

“The spirit of the game isn’t always in being the best, but rather in being the best you can be. It would be easy to have quit early on, to throw our hands up in the air with defeat and sulk home in shame. That’s not the kind of team we are though. We’ll keep fighting for our home land, our fans, and ourselves. We can only improve from here!” – Valtonous Rea.

No two Unis are the same. Some of us are academic. Some of us are heroic. Some of us are athletic. Some of us are creative. Some of us might be “vain” (I still don’t like that word though), but it is in no way representative of the species. It is not our defining feature.

To sum it up, I believe that the official description of Uni Day must be changed in order to better reflect who we are as a species. By dropping the subtitle of “a holiday honouring Neopia's most vain creatures”, we’re not only sending a positive message about self-image to our society, but countering what is, quite undeniably, both an inaccurate and a harmful stereotype. Next year, I’d love to be able to rip February from my calendar and feel warmth when I see March 2nd. Let’s teach the upcoming generation of Uni that they do not need to be pigeon-holed.