Monday, 19th October 2009

Let's talk about national stereotypes

A stereotype is an over – generalized and preconceived characteristic to someone or something.

In our society, we tend to attribute the same characteristics to a big group of people, and we generalize without distinctions. Nowadays, there are a lot of stereotypes, and some of them are classed by nationalities.
So, it is believed that:

• Italians are good lovers but bad workers
• Canadians are boring
• The British are violently mad soccer freaks.
• Spaniards are lazy.
• Americans are very liberal
• The Chinese eat anything that moves
• The French are arrogant

What do you think? Is this true or just a myth? Do you believe in stereotypes? Participate in the stereotypes survey which is on the right hand side of this blog.


Listen to what some American people think the British are like. (subtitled)





The Italians are known for three P’s: pizza, pasta and passionate sex.
Who wouldn’t want that kind of reputation as a people? However, it doesn’t end there. Italy is also seen by others as the land of the inefficient and the disorganized.

Listen now to what some English speakers think the Italians are like. (without subtitles)




Here are some opinions about the French (subtitled)




Stereotypes can be either positive or negative, but I think they are all unfair and misleading.

Stereotypes suggest that people or groups of people are the same, when, in fact, they are quite different. Stereotypes about human beings tend to dehumanize people, placing all members of a group into one, simple category.

Perhaps it’s about time that we stop perpetrating unfounded myths about other people and accept that mankind is a mixture of fine, unique individuals with different ways of living life. We should avoid branding a certain nationality with a negative notion for it can be offensive and dangerous.
But maybe for some of you, they are stereotypes for a reason. Maybe there’s some truth in it as it can be applied to some people. But the problem with stereotypes is that they always tend to generalize.

And remember that a person should never be judged according to his/her race and definitely not by his/her nationality.

Humanity should be defined by how good people have been to themselves and other people, not by the country they live in.

What's your opinion about this topic? Write some comments on it.