Patricia Dimargo, your classmate at Intermediate2-2 has sent us this interesting video on sterotypes. It's worth watching it. Write your composition about sterotypes here in "comments"
I guess the stereotypes are destructive. Every time I see the clip, I remember all the times when thought the population in Africa, only can be poor and they could have unhappy life full of the wars and diseases. That is only an example. We only get opinion about things can hear or see trough mass media. We are contaminating with unidirectional information from countries outside to Africa, or places we thought were too bad to live or something like that. I become aware of that I can make up our mind. We have set out to do it. We have needed to think about it and can look up information about other countries, which have stereotypes and contrast our information with information that we have found. Why not in other countries can be able social, economic and politician developed? Why not the population in other places can be getting on in their life? Sometimes, we think the countries with cultures different from our, are worse than ourselves, like countries belongs Africa. It’s not necessarily true. What stereotypes have to India? Many countries, like India or China, have had a developed quickly. The Indian and Chinese government thought the health is a factor more important than economic factor. For this, their have a life expectancy similar Europe countries even USA, that have thought the economic and industry were the most important factor to develop. Eventually, we should raise our opinion trough different types of information resources from different places.
An informal article about Spanish people by Rosi Hernández Spanish people’s sterotype is lazy and a bit gossip, but really funny. When there is a catastrophe, we are very solidaries in spite of having a temperamental and passionate character. We like eating and drinking so much (like potato omelette, paella and red wine). In fact, we have the best diet over the word: Mediterranean food. One the one hand, I think that mentioned stereotype is true, although in other countries foreing people believe that Spain is a country where sun always shine and it never rains. We have the best Europe’s climate. Moreover, we love beaches and sun and we starting to have ecology conscious. On the other hand, it’s false that we are murderes as regards terrorism problems, like many people think , who like in other countries. However we admire several nationalities, like Italy, Holland and Denmark, because we love their cultures, their traditions and their history. Personally, I think that we have a great sense of humor, so we become happy people and it’s our main strenght. Our weknesses are being very few organizad and not being realist people. In my opinión Spanish people are nice, polite and friendly, maybe we should keep our open mind and forgetting of some old traditions. We must take into account something much better and getting on alter sometime.
I would like to write without stereotypes, but I think it will be a lost task. Stereotypes come through ignorance. They tend to symplify all knowledge in a unique answer, usually wrong, incomplete and some times insulting. "Poor people has inferiority complex". We had seen the speaker coming to America, and being ashamed of speaking about her African origin. The stereotypes don't have anything to do with wealth, but with education. Probably American people, the richest, living lost inside their world, are the best example about this (This is another stereotype). I agree with the speaker about the problem. It would be solved if people were educated. Then they would know their background and would be proud of their History or understand other people. As the speaker says we need to know the good and bad things to get a better information and avoid the stereotypes.
I´m agree about what Patricia Dimargo says about the single stories makes stereotypes about people and contries and also can destroy the dignity of somebody or a nation. Also it´s important to know diferents stories if you really want to know them.
That´s why I don´t like stereotypes, but it´s dificult not to have them. For example, spanish people have a lot. We don´t like to work, it´s very important to us the “siesta”, foreign people think that the spanish people like bullfight, the sevillanas and the flamenco, we have a very good sense of humor, we like the parties and to go clubbing and so on...
This is very simple to understand about a country or a person, because there are a lot of diferent stories in each one and is more complex. Spain is very big and for example not everybody like the bullfight, there are people who are against it. But maybe it´s true that we don´t like to work and we are not enough efficient if we compare with other countries in Europe. And also we like to go outside with friends, and go clubbing, maybe because the weather let us to stay on the street longer than other countries. The “siesta” is very important in a place like Andalucía, because in summer, between 12:00 until 19:00 the hot is so high that is imposible to stay on the street. But in Vask contry is not necessary to do it, and they don´t do it in fact. Also I think we have a very good sense of humor, but the humor is something subjetive because the english humor is totally diferent to us, and sometime we don´t understand.
I think if we look up to other countries is on one hand for not knowing well them and remaining with a vision slanted of them, and in another hand for historical problems that come of behind. With France there has been a conflict from long time, but it is a problem of vicinity. Also we are not very wanted by the Portuguese since always they have felt that we have looked up them. With the Africans I believe that we have too many prejudices with them, and we think more on the differences that in the things that we have similar, as he says Patricia Dimargo.
About the stereotype of our strengths and weaknesses, I guess we have a way to live that help us, very good sense of humor, very frendly, people... but sometimes we are full of fear about the life, guilty... and these come, I think, from the repression our families had in the dictatorial regime of Franco and they are still in background of us.
Nevertheless I´m a positive person, and I believe that we are much better than before and that´s why we learn of our mistakes, and we have many good things.
Before defining / listing the most common stereotypes about Spaniards, I’m going to define what this idea means for me.
From my point of view, stereotype means something that people think about people FROM other countries. But, are always stereotypes true? Lets have a look.
The stereotypes are more o less general ideas without going in detail. I have read in an article about the stereotypes the following: One of most known stereotypes from Spain is La tortilla española. Of course, the Spaniards don’t eat tortilla every day, neither all Spaniards like the tortilla, but in the 70% OF bars, cafes or restaurants we can ask for tortilla and your are sure to find it.
On the other hand, normally we have better opinion about ourselves than about foreign people. Normally we are proud to be what we are. Always our country is better than any other. Of course, people can look up to other nationalities in some specify point.
Anyway, when I hear someone who says “this is the best beach in the world”, “my mother’s tortilla is the best”, or something like that , and I use to say: How many beaches do you know? Or, have you ever eaten my mother’s tortilla? Because I think that the best tortilla is my mother’s ONE. It’s only an example.
The most common stereotypes about the Spaniard would be the next:
-The Spaniards like the toros, there are in Sapain much more bullfighters than in other countries and nearly all the Spaniards use to go to the plaza every Sunday.
The Spanish men have dark skin and short stature, and usually they wear moustache. the former President Aznar for example, can be the Spanish prototype.
Spanish’s sun and beach
night-living in Spain the is amusing and exiting
The Spaniards aren’t hard-working, they are a little lazy
The towns of Spain are dirty
The Spaniards are noisy
Spaniards tend to be friendly, carefully, warm….
Spaniards like Flamenco, to much people dance Sevillanas and play the Spanish guitar.
Spain is well known because its good cooking: Paella, tortilla, gazpacho, Jamón (cured ham), and tapas Mayi Valle
“In Spain, of 10 heads, nine of them attacks and one think” (Antonio Machado)
We know that a stereotype is a very trite image with a few details about a group of people that share some qualities, features, skills… or the same nationality. Normally is used in a negative sense.
In our stereotype we often ear some words: Toros – Sun – Flamenco – Spree – Beach –Hot – Paella – Sangria – Siesta
But also is common: Poverty – Dirt – Unemployment – Noise – Bad Education
According to this, Spain is a place where people take breakfast with a liquor cup, where the most read newspaper only gives sport news and all is stopped at certain hour in a day, where everybody go to Toros and dance Flamenco.
Moreover life begins when in Europe switch off the lights, where before dinner people go from bar to bar eating very small rations. Where tourist have to take care with sympathetic person who wants to talk, …, and where Spaniards get to walk to God with any pretext.
All these sentences come from history and ignorance.
Northern Europe take advance of earlier natural light, so people is living some hour before us, and here in the south, afternoons comes with high temperature, so we try to escape of these hours with more night time. Siesta is not necessary; country isn’t stop at that time.
Moreover, we have other concept of courtesy. We are more communicative and we tend to gesture with the body, and the noise level is higher, people speak stronger than England, and we don’t say thanks all time like there …
Fortunately, stereotypes are changing with time and globalization. This is a slow process that has a lot of years behind …
A stereotype is a image that the people, we usually have about something and that is very difficult change.
Many people think that in EEUU, everybody eat burguers, and think that in Africa the people wear it covers tails or maybe that in Spain everybody like bulls or that in England always the people drink tea at 5'00 or breakfast everyday eggs and bacon.
I went to London and never eat eggs and bacon with the family with I was. My father come here from Africa, and he always wear clothes and he and his brother and sisters wear clothes and eat everyday.
Is our problem, that we have this stereotype about something stranger but we should to have the opened mind. I hope that stereotype change with the future.
We live in a world where people are very comfortable believing stereotypes abouts another countries. It is more easy to classify people in patterns already built. It makes it easier to us to try and understand them.
Due to living in a rent house with different roommates from many countries, I have been able to create my own stereotypes. Sometimes many of them are erroneous at first but they are changed later.
For example, I don’t think all Africans are poor people. I remember a phrase that an African roommate told me “ We are rich there but poor here.” That person lived with servants in her country, but not in Spain. Her family has one children in each part of the world: France, USA, Canada... So, are all Africans as poor as they look like?
In conclusion, I agree with the video, we can’t only focus in a single story or a stereotype. We must investigate about another countries. I don’t pretend to know about all of them but create our own opinion about them. One way to do that is visiting places not like a tourist: beautiful landscapes, hotels, expensive restaurants ... I believe we have to live the country we go to visit, to live like people who live there and understand them, is the only way we can say something is true or not.
The Russians. What do the other nationalities picture when they imagine Russia and What we’re really like? Vodka, matryoshka dolls, bears wandering down snow-covered streets are the first things which go to our mind when you hear Russia, isn’t it? Russian man is big, strong, stern, doesn't talk much and only uses violence to get his way. The Russians like other northern people tend to be taller than southern people. But the Russian are all different, there’re tall, very tall, not very tall, short and very short. I don’t think that all the Russians are stern and violent. Perhaps we don’t smile as much as Europeans or Americans, but in general we have a very good sense of humour and we like smiling and laughing when we really want to do and not for be polite. Bears are allowed to freely roam Red Square in Moscow. In the nineties, when I was studying at the University, I was engaged as a interpreter by the group of French artists. The first thing they asked me was “Are there bears in the street? I joked “Of course!” When we were walking on the biggest avenue of the city one of my French started to vociferate:” Bears, Bears, Bears.” There were two little bears playing with a man. We were walking near from the circus and that man was a trainer. He was bored, his bears too and they decided to go for a walk, when we saw them. But it was just a coincidence. There aren’t any bears in the Russians streets. Most of Russians don't drink water, only vodka and eat only borsch. As one of the largest producers of vodka, it’s probably safe to say that Russians enjoy a good drink. However, contrary to popular imagination, most Russians don’t drink vodka every day. While Russia is known for its vodka just like Japan is known for its sake and Germany for its beer. I’ve never tasted vodka, but it doesn’t do me less Russian than I am. Many foreign doesn’t know that 99% of Russians love tea. As for the borsch (the typical Russian dish) I really like it but I know and can do plenty of different good plates Russian and from other places. So we don’t eat only borsch and we don’t eat it every day.
Part 2 Russia is always cold and everyone wears fur coats It’s true that Russia is one of the coldest countries on earth, it is also a huge nation with a large variety of temperatures. In fact, the summers are very warm and Russia’s southern beaches draw many visitors. As for fur coats, they are very popular, but not all Russians wear them. The idea that all Russians wear fur coats is just as inaccurate as the notion that all English people wear rain coats or that all Americans sport jeans and tennis shoes. Russian women will marry anyone, because they desperately want to get out of Russia. This is very far from the truth. There are plenty of decent men in Russia. However there are more women in Russia than men, which could be one of the reasons why Russian women are looking for husbands abroad. All Russian women are beautiful blond with blue eyes. This is also just a stereotype. However, Russian women take very good care of themselves, they are very (too much sometime) feminine and they like to emphasize their femininity with attractive and fashionable clothing. We are multicolour hair and multicolour eyes nation and not only blond with blue eyes. Many foreign says than the Russians are very hospitable. I think is true. We love receive guests and go to visit too. We don’t have to organize the visit days before, you can go to your Russian friend home without invitation and without calling before and you can be sure to be well received.
I could add that most of the Russians love nature. Many Russians man are passionate hunter or fisher, they do it like a hobby. Most of families have got country houses with big gardens where they plant vegetables, fruits and berries. They spend week-ends and holydays there. The Russians like going to the forest for a walk or to collect flowers in the sprig, berries in the summer and mushrooms in the autumn. The nature in Russia is very rich and very nice.
I could write a lot more about what good people the Russians are or what negative aspects we have, but I have to end. I think than all I’ve wrote is enough to understand than Russia is more than only vodka, matryoshka and bears.
In my humble opinion, I think the stereotypes aren't so bad or harmful itself. Stereotypes are only ideas or concepts that come to your head when you think about in particular person, races, animals or whatever.
If someone talks with me about a doctor, I'll instantly think in a smart man, well educated and clever. It's so bad? In the same way, if someone talks with me about a footballer, I'll think in a man with only a few ideas. (Allright, perhaps this is a bad point). We associate fidelity and dogs, independece and cats and nightlife and bats.
However, the things can be different. Doctors can be idiots, footballers can be graduates, dogs can be unfaithful and cats can be dependents. Maybe even can be a diurnal bat.
The important thing is know that a stereotype can be not real, it's only a cliche, a preconceived idea. We can't guide by them. As always, is good the self experience, know the people and elaborate our own ideas about them.
What people think about a country and its inhabitants?
Or, which is really the character of every person in this country?
In my opinion, stereotypes aren’t so bad, the problem start when we forget that every society is consisting of different individual personal with a great variety of way of thinking and behaving. The stereotype is only the most common character in a place which is less common in others.
For example, one stereotype about Spain is that everybody love the bullfight, perhaps the most of us don’t agree with the practice of this “event” or “sport”, but we have to admit that this practice came from Spain, we like or not.
Another example is the Flamenco. Of course, it isn’t danced in the whole country but it is danced only in Spain. You can find people who dance Flamenco in other countries but it is a globalization effect and this is another matter. What is more, in Spain there are different typical dance like the “Jota”, “Sardana” or our “Isa” among others and they aren’t better or worse than Flamenco, they are only less knew. When we think in a stereotype we have to think that this quality is only the most widespread in a country or it is unusual in the others.
Is reality the customs of the people of a country like the stereotypes say about them?
I don’t know if it's nice writing about existing stereotypes about the Spanish, as this would remain fixed in the past. Outside Spain, we are known as the land of bullfights, paella, flamenco and fiesta… Luckily, Spain is more than those things. Nowadays, we fell the influence of globalization in our country, we have to keep our customs, although I don’t like everything of them.
Live on my island is different than living in the mainland, but we have our stereotypes, like be people with no stress, less worker or funny people. I like my stereotypes.
Stereotypes give us an idea, even if sometimes disturbed, of the people of a particular place. It may seem ignorant or closed minds, but I think it can sometimes help to tread carefully when trying to meet the people of a place.
Stereotypes, yes or not? If I had to answer the question, I would say no, but not as strongly as it seems.
Unfortunately people tend to judge all what the rest of the world do. We judge famous people without knowing them, to countries without having knowledge about their culture, traditions or their way to live.
For the rest of the world Spanish people are lazy, impolite, bossy, unintelligent and especially revelers. But from my point of view, stereotypes always are wrong. Each person is different because they are a lot of factors that have an influence in us: the weather, the family where we grow, the education, the friends... So i can´t say that i know two spanish people exactly the same. I have found a very hard-working person at the work and at the same time i have had a colleague who didn´t do anything at the company. On the other hand, there are a lot of people who love going out to discos but there are many too that prefer to spend their weekend to stay at home.
Definitely, i hate the stereotypes, so i can´t writte about them. the best way to know how is a culture, a person... is to introduce in it.
I believe that stereotypes are harmful and destructive. And I think each country has its culture, traditions and way of life. Unfortunately, some people always say that in African countries there is poverty, war, disease and lack of food. But there are many countries in Latin America that also suffer from poverty and hunger. In my country (El Salvador) are showing the documentary "A la vuelta de la esquina", to show how ONG in El Salvador, Honduras, Senegal, Guinea Bissau and the Palestinian territories working to achieve the Millennium development goals. These countries are working to eradicate poverty, hunger, improving maternal and child, care for the environment and build a global partnership for development. In this way also to break the stereotype of the "Gooperating Savior" of the northern guide to the development of a southern population helpless and resigned.
Bulgarian stereotype The question about national stereotypes is easier for the foreigners, but I´ll try to give some features I consider characteristic for our people and country. Firstly, I think that Bulgarian visitors keep quite good memories with our hospitality, open and friendly character, many musical and dancing talents, interesting history, virgin nature, excellent climatic conditions for agriculture, and cheap accommodation, meal and transport. Secondly, there are some strange personal features, like the manner we say yes/no with our head. Everybody nods to approve something, but Bulgarian people nods when they disapprove and move heads from one side to another (left to right or conversely) to approve something. And finally, I´m sure, that many tourists have suffered unfortunately some kind of disgusting experience in Bulgaria due to the bad infrastructure administration, people´s negativism. Well, after all I can´t say that what I highlighted about Bulgarian stereotype is not true. I only would like to make clearer some questions. The big social and economical change in the 80s/90s is not finished yet. One kind of political regime goes along with a kind of economic methods, directions, and administrative infrastructure, which mould people´s way of thinking and living, the most important element of the society and the one that is most difficult to change. So, we have a wonderful nature and conditions, but we don´t know how our wonderful nature could do us a lot of good. We need new economical methods and instruments, but we also need a new way of thinking. Speaking about Bulgarian strengths I have to stand our hospitality, sense of humor, study and culture traditions, and intelligence out. We maintain our folkloric vocal and dancing traditions, and develop modern art and culture trends. I´m sure, that if you try Bulgarian cuisine, you will be back soon, because of the high class cookery, law prices and a lot of taste in the plum/grape brandy, wines, bier, vegetable mixed salad, caw and sheep yogurt, cheese banitsa (like Spanish empanada), mixed grilled meat, Turkish influenced desserts. Don´t forget to try and buy Bulgarian rose essence, it´s unique in the world. Finally I have to mention our weaknesses: we often are negative, too unsatisfied of salary, envious, unpatriotic, looking up to any other country, to the foreigners. We are never guilty; the responsible for all our errors is anybody else but not us. So we become emigrants to solve our problems far away from our land.
I think the Spanish are a characteristic group with unusual customs. We´ve unusual customs like the bullfights, dance flamenco... and we like singing. The stereotype says we´ve dark eyes, dark hair and we are tanned, short and slim. We´re extrovert, friendly, kind but excesively talkative, we´ve a good sense of humour and we´re very noisy and always speak very loud. We always get late our dates but we think it´s irrelevant. We drive so far and we sometimes have traffic accidents. We´re lazy and work too hours but we´re inefficient. Anyway we love to sleep “siesta We like playing sports like motorciclyng race, F1, cycling and our favourite sport is football. We´ve some of the most important football team like Real Madrid, F.C. Barcelona, Sevilla F.C… and our Spanish Team “La Roja” which have been the World Champions and European Champions recently. The Spanish cook very well anytipe of food and the most typical food is paella and the spanish omelet. Although each place in the country have its typical food. We love our ham and specially the “Pata Negra” and also we like drinking sangria in summer and wine all the days. The most characteristic idea about Spanish is that we are always in a party. We have many events during the year and we like go to parties, disco dance and meet new people. This is the land of sunshine, beachs and hot. The Spanish men and women are very passionate and we can´t forget the Spanish men Latin Lovers.
In my opinion the Spanish stereotype may be correct in the most of things. We like siesta, food, parties, going to the beach, watching football on Sundays, we are passionate,.. But we have more things than sun, beachs, food, parties, bullfights, flamenco, football and latin lovers. Also we have wonderful landscape, natural parks, ski stations,.. important cityes, important business center, companys and more things to do and to know than in other countries think. The Spanish are usually talkative, extrovert and friendly but we aren´t noisy and we could be shy and serious… In our job we´re serious, hard working, and secure.
I’ve always thought that we shouldn’t take opinions about others in advance, haven’t you ever met someone who makes you think that you don’t like him/her? And after, when you finally know him/her, you notice that it was only in appearance but you were completely wrong, even that person can become pretty close to you. Sometimes we link races with a typical behavior using or having a prejudiced manner toward him. I’m not saying that I’ve never done it, but I agree we should be a little bit open-minded and try to host or accept different cultures and thoughts if we did that we’d learn and we’d find out that the way we see the life isn’t the only one or the better one. To sum up, stereotypes don’t have to be a bad thing if you can be objective at the end, you can use them being conscious that not always you’ll guess easily how people are. I think that it isn’t worth not to know someone who could be special just for having an incorrect idea about him/her.
First at all I have to say that I dont´t believe in stereotypes because generalize often means being wrong and not be honest with somebody, but the fact is that stereotypes exist and all the countries have theirs. Spanish people for example, It is said that we are not very hard workers, and we are very noisy, drink a lot, love the holidays to much, also It is said that we are very bad educated, but very good lovers. I think that in spain there are a lot of people that works as hard as people in other countries. It could be true that Spanish people were funnier then other countries, due to that we love the parties and dancing and singing with the music. Because of this, we are much noisier than others. There are a lot of studies about the behaviour of the people in several countries and in healthy much of them says that we are very altruistic.
Hi, I was born in Germany, though this is for me quite a little irrelevant in order to talk about the stereotypes of a certain place. From my point of view to make some judgement about the stereotypes or costumes of a country you should go there not as a tourist, it's better if you live there with their inhabitants and know each one: their behaviour, costumes, climate, genes, day of birth, their parent's life among other factors would give me better the general characteristics about a person or group. What do yo think about? Well, before I begin giving you the German stereotypes, I will enphazice that though I was born in Germany I grew up here in the Canary Islands, as a result I am living between two cultures: the German and the Canarian. I don't know where I belog to more. My grand mother was Canarian and my great grand parent's were from the Mainland. This the reason I feel in my blood the two cultures. In order to choose today one of them I will give you some german stereotypes: General speaking says: German like beer, are pretty good footballers, are the third world wide, are great in the car industry, in science... and what's about their character or personality? for me each person is a world... but... it is said and maybe it is true mostly that they are very correct, hard working, disciplinated, punctual, organised, but they have no sense of humour and from my point of view, they tend to be so polite and perfect that they can't be authentic and as a result they are insecure persons.
To conclude... because of our globalization we can´t today talk about a country or place because more and more come there people from other places or races to live and share with them their own cultures.
Congratulations to all for your articles. I agree with you, therefore I won't be repetitive. We can't make generalizations in any aspect especially when that can be pejorative. Our world is too chaotic and the least we can do is to have respect about other culture, tradition, etc. Any social norm requires a reflection. Kind regards, Starfish
When my son was five years old,he said to me surprised after returning of his first class of karate,that he didin`t understand why there was a chinese child in his class. Everybody use identify people from other countries by the most popular and typhical things of their culture,too much films and wrong information,always based in the same direction.And we look up our minds only with that knowleges. I'm agree with spanish stereotypes about people´s caracther and behaviours,we are friendly,sociable,appasionate and also a litle bit lazy. I admire to germans in that aspect,they are qualified and demanding,however they don´t know anything about warm relationships. But If we really want to know and speak about people from other countries,we must to find out in books or better to live in their places.
I’ve been watching information in the internet about what people think from Spanish people, and I found 4 topics again and again: Food (sangria and omelet), siesta, sun & parties and bull & Flamenco. Those are the words which the world identify Spain.
I know that we have one of the most famous foods all over the world, but that is because our famous chefs like Adriá or Arzak, and ours wine are very recognized too. We invented the siesta but we use to do it only at weekends. Of course we love the sun in the beach and walking through wood or practicing sports. We have many traditional parties (East, Christmas,..) others new ( Carnival,…) and many people come from others countries to enjoy them. And finally bull & Flamenco, they are typical from Spain but not all the people enjoy with them.
I believe that we are tolerant with all the nationalities. I think that we are friendly too, even without know the language we try to help everybody whose is visiting our country. But It’s true too that we use to speak loughly
27 comments:
I guess the stereotypes are destructive. Every time I see the clip, I remember all the times when thought the population in Africa, only can be poor and they could have unhappy life full of the wars and diseases.
That is only an example. We only get opinion about things can hear or see trough mass media. We are contaminating with unidirectional information from countries outside to Africa, or places we thought were too bad to live or something like that.
I become aware of that I can make up our mind. We have set out to do it.
We have needed to think about it and can look up information about other countries, which have stereotypes and contrast our information with information that we have found. Why not in other countries can be able social, economic and politician developed? Why not the population in other places can be getting on in their life?
Sometimes, we think the countries with cultures different from our, are worse than ourselves, like countries belongs Africa.
It’s not necessarily true. What stereotypes have to India?
Many countries, like India or China, have had a developed quickly. The Indian and Chinese government thought the health is a factor more important than economic factor. For this, their have a life expectancy similar Europe countries even USA, that have thought the economic and industry were the most important factor to develop.
Eventually, we should raise our opinion trough different types of information resources from different places.
Fran Casanova
An informal article about Spanish people by Rosi Hernández
Spanish people’s sterotype is lazy and a bit gossip, but really funny. When there is a catastrophe, we are very solidaries in spite of having a temperamental and passionate character. We like eating and drinking so much (like potato omelette, paella and red wine). In fact, we have the best diet over the word: Mediterranean food.
One the one hand, I think that mentioned stereotype is true, although in other countries foreing people believe that Spain is a country where sun always shine and it never rains. We have the best Europe’s climate.
Moreover, we love beaches and sun and we starting to have ecology conscious.
On the other hand, it’s false that we are murderes as regards terrorism problems, like many people think , who like in other countries.
However we admire several nationalities, like Italy, Holland and Denmark, because we love their cultures, their traditions and their history.
Personally, I think that we have a great sense of humor, so we become happy people and it’s our main strenght. Our weknesses are being very few organizad and not being realist people.
In my opinión Spanish people are nice, polite and friendly, maybe we should keep our open mind and forgetting of some old traditions. We must take into account something much better and getting on alter sometime.
I would like to write without stereotypes, but I think it will be a lost task.
Stereotypes come through ignorance. They tend to symplify all knowledge in a unique answer, usually wrong, incomplete and some times insulting.
"Poor people has inferiority complex". We had seen the speaker coming to America, and being ashamed of speaking about her African origin.
The stereotypes don't have anything to do with wealth, but with education. Probably American people, the richest, living lost inside their world, are the best example about this (This is another stereotype).
I agree with the speaker about the problem. It would be solved if people were educated. Then they would know their background and would be proud of their History or understand other people.
As the speaker says we need to know the good and bad things to get a better information and avoid the stereotypes.
Antonio del Pozo
I´m agree about what Patricia Dimargo says about the single stories makes stereotypes about people and contries and also can destroy the dignity of somebody or a nation. Also it´s important to know diferents stories if you really want to know them.
That´s why I don´t like stereotypes, but it´s dificult not to have them. For example, spanish people have a lot. We don´t like to work, it´s very important to us the “siesta”, foreign people think that the spanish people like bullfight, the sevillanas and the flamenco, we have a very good sense of humor, we like the parties and to go clubbing and so on...
This is very simple to understand about a country or a person, because there are a lot of diferent stories in each one and is more complex. Spain is very big and for example not everybody like the bullfight, there are people who are against it. But maybe it´s true that we don´t like to work and we are not enough efficient if we compare with other countries in Europe. And also we like to go outside with friends, and go clubbing, maybe because the weather let us to stay on the street longer than other countries. The “siesta” is very important in a place like Andalucía, because in summer, between 12:00 until 19:00 the hot is so high that is imposible to stay on the street. But in Vask contry is not necessary to do it, and they don´t do it in fact. Also I think we have a very good sense of humor, but the humor is something subjetive because the english humor is totally diferent to us, and sometime we don´t understand.
I think if we look up to other countries is on one hand for not knowing well them and remaining with a vision slanted of them, and in another hand for historical problems that come of behind. With France there has been a conflict from long time, but it is a problem of vicinity. Also we are not very wanted by the Portuguese since always they have felt that we have looked up them. With the Africans I believe that we have too many prejudices with them, and we think more on the differences that in the things that we have similar, as he says Patricia Dimargo.
About the stereotype of our strengths and weaknesses, I guess we have a way to live that help us, very good sense of humor, very frendly, people... but sometimes we are full of fear about the life, guilty... and these come, I think, from the repression our families had in the dictatorial regime of Franco and they are still in background of us.
Nevertheless I´m a positive person, and I believe that we are much better than before and that´s why we learn of our mistakes, and we have many good things.
Belén Castellano
STEREOTYPES
The Spaniards: What we’re really like
Before defining / listing the most common stereotypes about Spaniards, I’m going to define what this idea means for me.
From my point of view, stereotype means something that people think about people FROM other countries. But, are always stereotypes true? Lets have a look.
The stereotypes are more o less general ideas without going in detail.
I have read in an article about the stereotypes the following:
One of most known stereotypes from Spain is La tortilla española. Of course, the Spaniards don’t eat tortilla every day, neither all Spaniards like the tortilla, but in the 70% OF bars, cafes or restaurants we can ask for tortilla and your are sure to find it.
On the other hand, normally we have better opinion about ourselves than about foreign people. Normally we are proud to be what we are. Always our country is better than any other. Of course, people can look up to other nationalities in some specify point.
Anyway, when I hear someone who says “this is the best beach in the world”, “my mother’s tortilla is the best”, or something like that , and I use to say: How many beaches do you know? Or, have you ever eaten my mother’s tortilla? Because I think that the best tortilla is my mother’s ONE. It’s only an example.
The most common stereotypes about the Spaniard would be the next:
-The Spaniards like the toros, there are in Sapain much more bullfighters than in other countries and nearly all the Spaniards use to go to the plaza every Sunday.
The Spanish men have dark skin and short stature, and usually they wear moustache. the former President Aznar for example, can be the Spanish prototype.
Spanish’s sun and beach
night-living in Spain the is amusing and exiting
The Spaniards aren’t hard-working, they are a little lazy
The towns of Spain are dirty
The Spaniards are noisy
Spaniards tend to be friendly, carefully, warm….
Spaniards like Flamenco, to much people dance Sevillanas and play the Spanish guitar.
Spain is well known because its good cooking: Paella, tortilla, gazpacho, Jamón (cured ham), and tapas
Mayi Valle
Tipical Spanish
“In Spain, of 10 heads, nine of them attacks and one think” (Antonio Machado)
We know that a stereotype is a very trite image with a few details about a group of people that share some qualities, features, skills… or the same nationality. Normally is used in a negative sense.
In our stereotype we often ear some words:
Toros – Sun – Flamenco – Spree – Beach –Hot – Paella – Sangria – Siesta
But also is common:
Poverty – Dirt – Unemployment – Noise – Bad Education
According to this, Spain is a place where people take breakfast with a liquor cup, where the most read newspaper only gives sport news and all is stopped at certain hour in a day, where everybody go to Toros and dance Flamenco.
Moreover life begins when in Europe switch off the lights, where before dinner people go from bar to bar eating very small rations. Where tourist have to take care with sympathetic person who wants to talk, …, and where Spaniards get to walk to God with any pretext.
All these sentences come from history and ignorance.
Northern Europe take advance of earlier natural light, so people is living some hour before us, and here in the south, afternoons comes with high temperature, so we try to escape of these hours with more night time. Siesta is not necessary; country isn’t stop at that time.
Moreover, we have other concept of courtesy. We are more communicative and we tend to gesture with the body, and the noise level is higher, people speak stronger than England, and we don’t say thanks all time like there …
Fortunately, stereotypes are changing with time and globalization. This is a slow process that has a lot of years behind …
A stereotype is a image that the people, we usually have about something and that is very difficult change.
Many people think that in EEUU, everybody eat burguers, and think that in Africa the people wear it covers tails or maybe that in Spain everybody like bulls or that in England always the people drink tea at 5'00 or breakfast everyday eggs and bacon.
I went to London and never eat eggs and bacon with the family with I was. My father come here from Africa, and he always wear clothes and he and his brother and sisters wear clothes and eat everyday.
Is our problem, that we have this stereotype about something stranger but we should to have the opened mind. I hope that stereotype change with the future.
We live in a world where people are very comfortable believing stereotypes abouts another countries. It is more easy to classify people in patterns already built. It makes it easier to us to try and understand them.
Due to living in a rent house with different roommates from many countries, I have been able to create my own stereotypes. Sometimes many of them are erroneous at first but they are changed later.
For example, I don’t think all Africans are poor people. I remember a phrase that an African roommate told me “ We are rich there but poor here.” That person lived with servants in her country, but not in Spain. Her family has one children in each part of the world: France, USA, Canada... So, are all Africans as poor as they look like?
In conclusion, I agree with the video, we can’t only focus in a single story or a stereotype. We must investigate about another countries. I don’t pretend to know about all of them but create our own opinion about them. One way to do that is visiting places not like a tourist: beautiful landscapes, hotels, expensive restaurants ... I believe we have to live the country we go to visit, to live like people who live there and understand them, is the only way we can say something is true or not.
The Russians. What do the other nationalities picture when they imagine Russia and What we’re really like?
Vodka, matryoshka dolls, bears wandering down snow-covered streets are the first things which go to our mind when you hear Russia, isn’t it?
Russian man is big, strong, stern, doesn't talk much and only uses violence to get his way.
The Russians like other northern people tend to be taller than southern people. But the Russian are all different, there’re tall, very tall, not very tall, short and very short. I don’t think that all the Russians are stern and violent. Perhaps we don’t smile as much as Europeans or Americans, but in general we have a very good sense of humour and we like smiling and laughing when we really want to do and not for be polite.
Bears are allowed to freely roam Red Square in Moscow.
In the nineties, when I was studying at the University, I was engaged as a interpreter by the group of French artists. The first thing they asked me was “Are there bears in the street? I joked “Of course!” When we were walking on the biggest avenue of the city one of my French started to vociferate:” Bears, Bears, Bears.” There were two little bears playing with a man. We were walking near from the circus and that man was a trainer. He was bored, his bears too and they decided to go for a walk, when we saw them. But it was just a coincidence. There aren’t any bears in the Russians streets.
Most of Russians don't drink water, only vodka and eat only borsch.
As one of the largest producers of vodka, it’s probably safe to say that Russians enjoy a good drink. However, contrary to popular imagination, most Russians don’t drink vodka every day. While Russia is known for its vodka just like Japan is known for its sake and Germany for its beer. I’ve never tasted vodka, but it doesn’t do me less Russian than I am. Many foreign doesn’t know that 99% of Russians love tea. As for the borsch (the typical Russian dish) I really like it but I know and can do plenty of different good plates Russian and from other places. So we don’t eat only borsch and we don’t eat it every day.
Part 2
Russia is always cold and everyone wears fur coats
It’s true that Russia is one of the coldest countries on earth, it is also a huge nation with a large variety of temperatures. In fact, the summers are very warm and Russia’s southern beaches draw many visitors. As for fur coats, they are very popular, but not all Russians wear them. The idea that all Russians wear fur coats is just as inaccurate as the notion that all English people wear rain coats or that all Americans sport jeans and tennis shoes.
Russian women will marry anyone, because they desperately want to get out of Russia.
This is very far from the truth. There are plenty of decent men in Russia. However there are more women in Russia than men, which could be one of the reasons why Russian women are looking for husbands abroad.
All Russian women are beautiful blond with blue eyes.
This is also just a stereotype. However, Russian women take very good care of themselves, they are very (too much sometime) feminine and they like to emphasize their femininity with attractive and fashionable clothing. We are multicolour hair and multicolour eyes nation and not only blond with blue eyes.
Many foreign says than the Russians are very hospitable.
I think is true. We love receive guests and go to visit too. We don’t have to organize the visit days before, you can go to your Russian friend home without invitation and without calling before and you can be sure to be well received.
I could add that most of the Russians love nature. Many Russians man are passionate hunter or fisher, they do it like a hobby. Most of families have got country houses with big gardens where they plant vegetables, fruits and berries. They spend week-ends and holydays there. The Russians like going to the forest for a walk or to collect flowers in the sprig, berries in the summer and mushrooms in the autumn. The nature in Russia is very rich and very nice.
I could write a lot more about what good people the Russians are or what negative aspects we have, but I have to end. I think than all I’ve wrote is enough to understand than Russia is more than only vodka, matryoshka and bears.
In my humble opinion, I think the stereotypes aren't so bad or harmful itself. Stereotypes are only ideas or concepts that come to your head when you think about in particular person, races, animals or whatever.
If someone talks with me about a doctor, I'll instantly think in a smart man, well educated and clever. It's so bad? In the same way, if someone talks with me about a footballer, I'll think in a man with only a few ideas. (Allright, perhaps this is a bad point). We associate fidelity and dogs, independece and cats and nightlife and bats.
However, the things can be different. Doctors can be idiots, footballers can be graduates, dogs can be unfaithful and cats can be dependents. Maybe even can be a diurnal bat.
The important thing is know that a stereotype can be not real, it's only a cliche, a preconceived idea. We can't guide by them. As always, is good the self experience, know the people and elaborate our own ideas about them.
What is really a stereotype?
What people think about a country and its inhabitants?
Or, which is really the character of every person in this country?
In my opinion, stereotypes aren’t so bad, the problem start when we forget that every society is consisting of different individual personal with a great variety of way of thinking and behaving. The stereotype is only the most common character in a place which is less common in others.
For example, one stereotype about Spain is that everybody love the bullfight, perhaps the most of us don’t agree with the practice of this “event” or “sport”, but we have to admit that this practice came from Spain, we like or not.
Another example is the Flamenco. Of course, it isn’t danced in the whole country but it is danced only in Spain. You can find people who dance Flamenco in other countries but it is a globalization effect and this is another matter. What is more, in Spain there are different typical dance like the “Jota”, “Sardana” or our “Isa” among others and they aren’t better or worse than Flamenco, they are only less knew.
When we think in a stereotype we have to think that this quality is only the most widespread in a country or it is unusual in the others.
Is reality the customs of the people of a country like the stereotypes say about them?
I don’t know if it's nice writing about existing stereotypes about the Spanish, as this would remain fixed in the past. Outside Spain, we are known as the land of bullfights, paella, flamenco and fiesta… Luckily, Spain is more than those things. Nowadays, we fell the influence of globalization in our country, we have to keep our customs, although I don’t like everything of them.
Live on my island is different than living in the mainland, but we have our stereotypes, like be people with no stress, less worker or funny people. I like my stereotypes.
Stereotypes give us an idea, even if sometimes disturbed, of the people of a particular place. It may seem ignorant or closed minds, but I think it can sometimes help to tread carefully when trying to meet the people of a place.
Stereotypes, yes or not? If I had to answer the question, I would say no, but not as strongly as it seems.
Unfortunately people tend to judge all what the rest of the world do. We judge famous people without knowing them, to countries without having knowledge about their culture, traditions or their way to live.
For the rest of the world Spanish people are lazy, impolite, bossy, unintelligent and especially revelers. But from my point of view, stereotypes always are wrong.
Each person is different because they are a lot of factors that have an influence in us: the weather, the family where we grow, the education, the friends... So i can´t say that i know two spanish people exactly the same. I have found a very hard-working person at the work and at the same time i have had a colleague who didn´t do anything at the company. On the other hand, there are a lot of people who love going out to discos but there are many too that prefer to spend their weekend to stay at home.
Definitely, i hate the stereotypes, so i can´t writte about them. the best way to know how is a culture, a person... is to introduce in it.
I believe that stereotypes are harmful and destructive.
And I think each country has its culture, traditions and way of life.
Unfortunately, some people always say that in African countries there is poverty, war, disease and lack of food.
But there are many countries in Latin America that also suffer from poverty and hunger.
In my country (El Salvador) are showing the documentary "A la vuelta de la esquina", to show how ONG in El Salvador, Honduras, Senegal, Guinea Bissau and the Palestinian territories working to achieve the Millennium development goals.
These countries are working to eradicate poverty, hunger, improving maternal and child, care for the environment and build a global partnership for development.
In this way also to break the stereotype of the "Gooperating Savior" of the northern guide to the development of a southern population helpless and resigned.
Bulgarian stereotype
The question about national stereotypes is easier for the foreigners, but I´ll try to give some features I consider characteristic for our people and country.
Firstly, I think that Bulgarian visitors keep quite good memories with our hospitality, open and friendly character, many musical and dancing talents, interesting history, virgin nature, excellent climatic conditions for agriculture, and cheap accommodation, meal and transport.
Secondly, there are some strange personal features, like the manner we say yes/no with our head. Everybody nods to approve something, but Bulgarian people nods when they disapprove and move heads from one side to another (left to right or conversely) to approve something. And finally, I´m sure, that many tourists have suffered unfortunately some kind of disgusting experience in Bulgaria due to the bad infrastructure administration, people´s negativism.
Well, after all I can´t say that what I highlighted about Bulgarian stereotype is not true. I only would like to make clearer some questions. The big social and economical change in the 80s/90s is not finished yet. One kind of political regime goes along with a kind of economic methods, directions, and administrative infrastructure, which mould people´s way of thinking and living, the most important element of the society and the one that is most difficult to change. So, we have a wonderful nature and conditions, but we don´t know how our wonderful nature could do us a lot of good. We need new economical methods and instruments, but we also need a new way of thinking.
Speaking about Bulgarian strengths I have to stand our hospitality, sense of humor, study and culture traditions, and intelligence out. We maintain our folkloric vocal and dancing traditions, and develop modern art and culture trends. I´m sure, that if you try Bulgarian cuisine, you will be back soon, because of the high class cookery, law prices and a lot of taste in the plum/grape brandy, wines, bier, vegetable mixed salad, caw and sheep yogurt, cheese banitsa (like Spanish empanada), mixed grilled meat, Turkish influenced desserts. Don´t forget to try and buy Bulgarian rose essence, it´s unique in the world.
Finally I have to mention our weaknesses: we often are negative, too unsatisfied of salary, envious, unpatriotic, looking up to any other country, to the foreigners. We are never guilty; the responsible for all our errors is anybody else but not us. So we become emigrants to solve our problems far away from our land.
I think the Spanish are a characteristic group with unusual customs. We´ve unusual customs like the bullfights, dance flamenco... and we like singing.
The stereotype says we´ve dark eyes, dark hair and we are tanned, short and slim. We´re extrovert, friendly, kind but excesively talkative, we´ve a good sense of humour and we´re very noisy and always speak very loud.
We always get late our dates but we think it´s irrelevant. We drive so far and we sometimes have traffic accidents. We´re lazy and work too hours but we´re inefficient. Anyway we love to sleep “siesta
We like playing sports like motorciclyng race, F1, cycling and our favourite sport is football. We´ve some of the most important football team like Real Madrid, F.C. Barcelona, Sevilla F.C… and our Spanish Team “La Roja” which have been the World Champions and European Champions recently.
The Spanish cook very well anytipe of food and the most typical food is paella and the spanish omelet. Although each place in the country have its typical food. We love our ham and specially the “Pata Negra” and also we like drinking sangria in summer and wine all the days.
The most characteristic idea about Spanish is that we are always in a party. We have many events during the year and we like go to parties, disco dance and meet new people. This is the land of sunshine, beachs and hot.
The Spanish men and women are very passionate and we can´t forget the Spanish men Latin Lovers.
In my opinion the Spanish stereotype may be correct in the most of things. We like siesta, food, parties, going to the beach, watching football on Sundays, we are passionate,..
But we have more things than sun, beachs, food, parties, bullfights, flamenco, football and latin lovers. Also we have wonderful landscape, natural parks, ski stations,.. important cityes, important business center, companys and more things to do and to know than in other countries think.
The Spanish are usually talkative, extrovert and friendly but we aren´t noisy and we could be shy and serious… In our job we´re serious, hard working, and secure.
I’ve always thought that we shouldn’t take opinions about others in advance, haven’t you ever met someone who makes you think that you don’t like him/her? And after, when you finally know him/her, you notice that it was only in appearance but you were completely wrong, even that person can become pretty close to you.
Sometimes we link races with a typical behavior using or having a prejudiced manner toward him. I’m not saying that I’ve never done it, but I agree we should be a little bit open-minded and try to host or accept different cultures and thoughts if we did that we’d learn and we’d find out that the way we see the life isn’t the only one or the better one.
To sum up, stereotypes don’t have to be a bad thing if you can be objective at the end, you can use them being conscious that not always you’ll guess easily how people are. I think that it isn’t worth not to know someone who could be special just for having an incorrect idea about him/her.
STEREOTYPES
First at all I have to say that I dont´t believe in stereotypes because generalize often means being wrong and not be honest with somebody, but the fact is that stereotypes exist and all the countries have theirs.
Spanish people for example, It is said that we are not very hard workers, and we are very noisy, drink a lot, love the holidays to much, also It is said that we are very bad educated, but very good lovers.
I think that in spain there are a lot of people that works as hard as people in other countries.
It could be true that Spanish people were funnier then other countries, due to that we love the parties and dancing and singing with the music. Because of this, we are much noisier than others.
There are a lot of studies about the behaviour of the people in several countries and in healthy much of them says that we are very altruistic.
what are the german like?
Hi, I was born in Germany, though this is for me quite a little irrelevant in order to talk about the stereotypes of a certain place. From my point of view to make some judgement about the stereotypes or costumes of a country you should go there not as a tourist, it's better if you live there with their inhabitants and know each one: their behaviour, costumes, climate, genes, day of birth, their parent's life among other factors would give me better the general characteristics about a person or group. What do yo think about? Well, before I begin giving you the German stereotypes, I will enphazice that though I was born in Germany I grew up here in the Canary Islands, as a result I am living between two cultures: the German and the Canarian. I don't know where I belog to more. My grand mother was Canarian and my great grand parent's were from the Mainland. This the reason I feel in my blood the two cultures.
In order to choose today one of them I will give you some german stereotypes:
General speaking says: German like beer, are pretty good footballers, are the third world wide, are great in the car industry, in science... and what's about their character or personality? for me each person is a world... but... it is said and maybe it is true mostly that they are very correct, hard working, disciplinated, punctual, organised, but they have no sense of humour and from my point of view, they tend to be so polite and perfect that they can't be authentic and as a result they are insecure persons.
To conclude... because of our globalization we can´t today talk about a country or place because more and more come there people from other places or races to live and share with them their own cultures.
Dagmar
Congratulations to all for your articles.
I agree with you, therefore I won't be repetitive. We can't make generalizations in any aspect especially when that can be pejorative.
Our world is too chaotic and the least we can do is to have respect about other culture, tradition, etc. Any social norm requires a reflection.
Kind regards,
Starfish
When my son was five years old,he said to me surprised after returning of his first class of karate,that he didin`t understand why there was a chinese child in his class.
Everybody use identify people from other countries by the most popular and typhical things of their culture,too much films and wrong information,always based in the same direction.And we look up our minds only with that knowleges.
I'm agree with spanish stereotypes about people´s caracther and behaviours,we are friendly,sociable,appasionate and also a litle bit lazy.
I admire to germans in that aspect,they are qualified and demanding,however they don´t know anything about warm relationships.
But If we really want to know and speak about people from other countries,we must to find out in books or better to live in their places.
SPANISH STEROTYPES
I’ve been watching information in the internet about what people think from Spanish people, and I found 4 topics again and again: Food (sangria and omelet), siesta, sun & parties and bull & Flamenco. Those are the words which the world identify Spain.
I know that we have one of the most famous foods all over the world, but that is because our famous chefs like Adriá or Arzak, and ours wine are very recognized too. We invented the siesta but we use to do it only at weekends. Of course we love the sun in the beach and walking through wood or practicing sports. We have many traditional parties (East, Christmas,..) others new ( Carnival,…) and many people come from others countries to enjoy them. And finally bull & Flamenco, they are typical from Spain but not all the people enjoy with them.
I believe that we are tolerant with all the nationalities. I think that we are friendly too, even without know the language we try to help everybody whose is visiting our country. But It’s true too that we use to speak loughly
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