Homeschoolers: The Story Behind Stereotypes

Stereotypes are real. It depends on which one you come across. When you talk about homeschoolers, a stereotype may be that you're disabled. Or you're orthodox to the point where that's your identity. Or that you're alone and don’t have much company. And there’s another stereotype where homeschoolers are geniuses, well versed in their field, even running their own business. And of course we have our athletes and kids who got promoted one too many times. Both are true but they open the door to a broader, more interesting reality. Specifically, homeschoolers lack representation in the media; they rarely appear in movies or TV, and when they do it’s often linked to disability or academic pressure. This greatly affects the perception and participation of homeschoolers in the East and the West.

In India, homeschooling was initially created keeping disabled and differently abled students in mind so they have a fair and equally challenging education, and it formed an image that intrinsically associated homeschoolers to disabled kids. When I meet new people, I’ve been asked whether I’m disabled when I mention that I’m homeschooled. There is no hesitation in asking that question because that’s the only reason many people can imagine, an effect from misrepresentation in the media. 

Across much of Asia, homeschooling is often associated with being “slow.” Expectations for academics are extremely high, and since schooling is tied to exams and competition, homeschooling looks like “opting out.” For example, films about education almost always focus on either toppers or students who “couldn’t cope” with school, leaving little space for homeschoolers to be shown as normal kids within the little screen time given. Consequently, this creates a bubble around homeschoolers that alienates them from the rest of the world. The issue arises here: when people don’t know, they assume and tie all your personal traits to homeschooling. You have a different opinion? Must be homeschooling. You don’t like physical contact? Homeschooling. You work hard? You wouldn’t be able to do that if you went to school!

In the West, however, the narrative looks completely different. Homeschoolers are often portrayed as brilliant, self-sufficient, but socially unusual. They're portrayed to be orthodoxically conservative or prodigies who are going to make the next big discovery. These extreme characteristics feed the idea that homeschoolers are either only exceptionally intelligent or complete outsiders. Just like in a brick-and-mortar classroom, where there are people who are average and there are toppers. But because the media often chooses to present the extremes, the middle ground goes unseen. We need to acknowledge that grey area.

The different attitudes and mindsets of the East and the West reflect their independent social norms and cultural evolution. Societies in general function in different ways, and it just so happens that the East looks at homeschooling in a negative perspective. Conformity and competition dominate in Asia, giving homeschoolers a weak image of misfits. In contrast, individuality and alternative paths are encouraged in the West, where homeschoolers are imagined as geniuses and sporty legends. These interpretations matter because they shape how people interact with homeschoolers in real life; if what you see are kids in camper vans or conservative households, you’ll assume that’s the rule, not the exception. 

This is how it was earlier. More recently, I've seen a positive, more realistic representation of homeschoolers in the media. Influencers speak freely about their experiences sharing how it shaped them. And instead of only showing prodigies or isolated kids, we're seeing homeschoolers as regular young people who are curious, social, and diverse in their interests. This slow but steady change matters, because when representation reflects reality, it allows people to see homeschooling as a vast platform to learn the ways to take on life. It shows that homeschooling is one valid option among many, rather than an odd exception. 

Addressing stereotypes and concerns of homeschoolers, let's discuss the narrative of isolation. Social lives depend from person to person: you could have one friend you talk to for hours and be “isolated.” Or you could have a few friends you see occasionally and still be “isolated.” Homeschoolers study at home – mic drop – naturally, they might meet their friends once a week or even once a month. That just means you don’t spend your whole day with people, which seems pretty normal. And honestly, I'm not a representative defending homeschooling, I'm just a girl; I'm just a girl in the world. Isolation isn’t necessarily a bad thing either. A school-going introvert may spend all day in a classroom and still feel isolated. Homeschoolers learn social interaction in different ways; through courses, camps, homeschool meet-ups (yes, picnics where homeschoolers hang out!), and by pursuing what genuinely interests them.

Just as their social lives follow unique paths, their daily lives are just as varied. Two homeschoolers have different routines, priorities, career pathways and they don't even share the same textbooks! An athlete would focus on their diet, physical training and recovery while an artist would lead a completely different life. Individuals with diverse backgrounds such as homeschooling don’t operate the same way and it goes to show the freedom that comes with opting for homeschooling. Despite all the differences homeschoolers have, they meet at the same place where they themselves decide how they shape their life. 

In the end, homeschooling isn’t about being a genius or being isolated: it’s about having the space you have to do something you like. You get the time to explore, and no matter what you decide to learn about, you gain real life skills instead of paper thin learning. Homeschoolers think outside the box – a skill they’ve learned by experience. Homeschoolers don’t fit into a single stereotype, and maybe that's the best part about them.

Written by Harshita

I'm Harshita! I'm currently in my final year of homeschooling. And after spending countless hours with books, I'm finally penning down my stories, just how I see them.