American Stereotypes.

Parents Forum
1

<p>We all know that there are many American stereotypes, for better or for worse. Well, I just got invited to help organize a pre-departure orientation in the United Arab Emirates to a number of students (around 120). I was assigned to talk about American stereotypes, and Arabic (most of them are also Muslims) stereotypes that they may encounter. However, my job is to demolish these stereotypes, rather than enforce them.</p>

<p>Here is where you all come in:
What stereotypes do you think these students will face in US universities?
What stereotypes would you like to erase about Americans, including University based stereotypes?</p>

<p>I already formed a list, but I’m sure I will find some interesting things that I probably missed.</p>

2

<p>To find the negative stereotypes that foreigners have of Americans, just look at what they see in exported Hollywood movies and TV shows:</p>

<p>American women are “easy.”
Americans in general are sex-obsessed.
America is violent and crime-ridden, with gun fights constantly breaking out and perpetually on the verge of race riots.
Americans mostly lead shallow, empty lives.
Americans are smiling and friendly, but underneath it they are anti-intellectual and often downright dumb.
Americans are cowboys.
Americans are arrogant and oblivious to the rest of the world.
And so on…</p>

<p>And like most stereotypes, there is a core of truth behind some of these.</p>

3

<p>Wow! I lived in the Middle East years ago (and loved it), and am currently helping a Libyan grad student adjust to the U.S. </p>

<p>I am sad to say this but I think most Americans think very poorly of Arabs, when they think of them at all. Just the other day a vivacious, adventuresome friend who is a French teacher and grad student told me she would never, ever go to an Arab country because she’s afraid of being kidnapped into slavery. Your students may be discouraged if you tell them about the general dislike . . . </p>

<p>Having said that, I don’t think most college students would display overt antipathy toward Arab students. College kids are probably the most open-minded segment of the American population. When they meet someone that shatters the stereotypes that they don’t know they have, it will be a wonderful, transforming moment.</p>

<p>More specifically, American students may think Muslims are rigid and disapproving, not much fun. Tell them to “be regular guys,” to dress like Americans, ask a lot of questions, show approval and appreciation, and try to join in as many activities as possible. Know that all Americans don’t conduct themselves like R-rated Hollywood movies. Even though American clothing might appear provocative, there is a very wide range of behavior, from strict and conservative to hedonistic! They shouldn’t assume all Americans believe the same things or behave the same way, even though they will probably think all students look alike.</p>

<p>I don’t know if any women are in your group. They will probably meet with some pity, and questions like “can you even go out of your house?”
Getting used to ignorant questions that aren’t meant to be offensive will be a necessity for your students. Also the general lack of knowledge about things the American government has done in the Middle East may be upsetting to some of your students. </p>

<p>Our Libyan friend made some statements at our house one night that would not fly with Americans. He told us “I don’t like the black people.” We knew he was frustrated, referring to his country’s open border policy with Africa, but that kind of sentiment is considered abhorrent by most everyone in this country, and should NOT be expressed. He also told us he did not like animals and though harmless, that is also a statement that won’t endear him to Americans.</p>

<p>They should know that Americans value being very casual but that that doesn’t signify disrespect.</p>

<p>I’ll try and think of some more. Good luck on this very worthwhile project. More than ever, we need to understand each other.</p>

4

<p>Instead of lecturing them, you could ask them about the stereotypes they have and use the responses as springboards to discuss them. For devout Muslims, what would pass for quite modest behavior may seem “fast.” Also, American college students obsession with drinking may be offensive. </p>

<p>When I came to college in the US and underwent an orientation for foreign students, there was a lot of discussion about the strange American custom of “dating.” Of course, that was in the Dark Ages…</p>

5

<p>Many Americans view Muslims and/or people of Arabic origin in a certain way and some of our perceptions are probably accurate, since in today’s world we don’t have to travel to learn about other people’s cultures and values. Similarly, there are things about Americans that people in Muslim countries believe and that may be accurate stereotypes. For instance, most Americans (male or female) feel free to speak their minds and express their feelings. People from other cultures may view this trait as overly emotional, independent, and arrogant - a modern version of the ugly American. Rather than trying to convince someone that Americans are more nuanced, perhaps you should acknowledge that many American college students have strong opinions and express them. I would focus on telling them that, while Americans can freely express their opinions, it doesn’t mean everyone has to agree with those opinions.</p>

<p>So instead of seeing your role as trying to discredit stereotypes, I suggest you focus on why those stereotypes exist. At heart, is there truth to the stereotype? I think you would be doing your orientation students a favor to acknowledge that our cultures are different and that some behaviors and ideas are preferred in America and, even though they not like them, it’s the reality in American society. </p>

<p>Here’s a common sense parallel: If one student planned to attend college in Texas and another was headed for Massachusetts, you wouldn’t hesitate to explain how different people in those states can be. That doesn’t mean one place has better people, only that they are different and that’s part of the excitement of studying in a new place with different people. In other words, you would point out and perhaps even celebrate the differences so the students could adjust to their new locale.</p>

6

<p>Oh but we do make fun of people in other states. Hence, we have pushy New Yorkers, thrifty (read cheap) New Englanders, and bible-thumping Southerners etc.</p>

7

<p>coureur:</p>

<p>Your point has a lot of validity. I met a guy I was working with in Australia once who very much wanted to visit the USA because he liked the American soldiers he fought alongside in Vietnam but his wife refused to come to the US because she was convinced one couldn’t even walk down the street without being killed. This was almost exclusively influenced by the TV shows exported there (Kojak, Hill Street Blues, etc. - this was a while ago). I think she was skeptical when I told her I could actually safely walk around in my neighborhood at 3 in the morning. I hope he eventually made a trip here.</p>

8

<p>Joey:</p>

<p>The important point is to convince both ends to put their pre-conceived ideas behind them long enough to spend some time with the other. Nothing can dispel the pre-conceived ideas faster than meeting a real, tangible person and discovering that they’re individuals and not a ‘category’ or other generalization. This also holds true for people of different races, different geos within the USA, etc. Just as they know that each of them is unique compared with their own group, they need to realize the individuals in the other group are unique as well.</p>

9

<p>I visited the Saudi Arabian embassy in Washington DC with my Model UN group, and many of SuNa’s comments about questions Americans ask regarding Arabs are true. </p>

<p>A lot of American students are fascinated with what everyday life is for a common woman in the Middle East. Does she have to cover up no matter where she is going? Do most husbands “control” their wives in any way? Do teens in the Middle East date? </p>

<p>My experience is that American students are often so eager to learn about this culture that their questions come off as ignorant, annoying, too forward, etc. Middle Easterners are not used to the casual tone of Americans, and so many students are shocked that Middle Eastern students do not respond to their questions with excited enthusiasm. American students have been taught for their whole lives that asking questions is the best way to learn and form relationships with others, but I sense that many Middle Eastern students are very uncomfortable talking about the details of their lives with complete strangers, whereas American students would rattle on for days about the minutia of their day to anyone. </p>

<p>Definitely explain to the Middle Eastern students that Americans are naturally friendly, very enthusiastic, and open to in-depth conversation with acquaintances. If you do not, they might feel overwhelmed or freaked out by the barrage of questions. </p>

<p>I didn’t realize how friendly Americans were until we had some Korean exchange students at our school this year. Within the first week, kids were inviting them to movies, asking them to teach the class some Korean, offering to help them “assimilate” to American culture, wanting to get them to try new foods…the Korean kids were freaked out! I think America is the only country where you can become “best friends” with someone you don’t even know!</p>

10

<p>The stereotype that foreigners have of Americans that I think might be the most damaging (since other stereotypes follow from it) is that Americans are monolithic - that any particular trait will apply to most of them.</p>

<p>Beyond that you’ve already received some very good advice.</p>

11

<p>Stereotypes vary from country to country, based on the values of that country. I don’t have any experience with Arabs but I think it’s great what you are doing, and will be very useful. I would have loved something like that when coming here to Germany. Sometimes even when a sterotype rings true, it’s helpful to understand the culture or history behind it. America is a nation of immigrants; our country survived because people moved on, made new friends, leaned on others, didn’t have family near by. We learned to cut to the chase in establishing relationships, because we needed the help and didn’t have time to pussyfoot. The immigrants were the ones actively seeking something better, ones with initiative and courage and daring. </p>

<p>Germans seem rude and abrupt to us. Service personnel are not service-oriented. It comes in part from the class ranking of the past - the Slavs (where the word slave comes from) being the lowest, and there being a royal class that owned everything and everybody. Germans have developed a distaste of serving anyone, because they abhor any signs of inferiority or submissiveness. </p>

<p>Germans don’t think Americans are “fast” - they think they are conservative and naiive. They think Americans are very informal, but many of them - especially younger people - like that friendliness and openess. On the other hand, some interpret that openess with everyone to be shallow and insincere - since they only tend to be open like that with their closest friends, and therefore it means more. I have hurt people’s feelings by being friendly and welcoming, and then not calling them for weeks – Once a German is your friend, the relationship has certain obligations to it.</p>

<p>People who don’t move around much, and live in the same town as their ancestors, have a built-in family support system and don’t need to reach out. There are small towns in the US that have become this way. There are many places in Europe that are this way. It comes across as unfriendly to those of us used to something else.</p>

<p>Germans also think all Americans have guns. My D’s Englisch class showed two movies this year by Michael Moore. After seeing “Bowling for Columbine,” she shocked her classmates by announcing that her family didn’t own a gun.</p>

<p>The one stereotype I am sick of, that might also apply to your students, is the notion that all Americans are rich. People tend to expect us to pay for everything. Landlords seek to rent to Americans, and then find imaginary problems. This is caused in part by the many military posts here, where the DOD really does throw money after things, and therefore the landlords have learned to milk it. In stores we have received “sudden discounts” when they learn we aren’t military - they jack up the price because military folk shop tax free. Housing in America is much cheaper, so someone sees a photo of our “big” house and thinks we’re akin to royalty. It’s also caused by Americans being, in general, more generous. The German government pays for everything - social services, health care, even a church tax. So Germans aren’t used to “giving”. American generosity seems to be interpreted as excess wealth. </p>

<p>I wish you’d share some of the things you already had on your list. I’m appreciating the lessons that have already been posted, and am learning a lot.</p>

12

<p>I am a foreigner (Australian) and i just thought i would fill you in on some of the perceived American stereotypes. I mean no offence, i love america/americans…these are just some common responses i have had when i mentioned i am going to study in America. I’m sure you have mostly heard them all before and it is coming from a western view point, i guess Arab stereotypes would be a bit different.</p>

<ul>
<li>Americans are arrogant and loud.</li>
<li>Americans all love George bush (and associated political views)</li>
<li>Americans are all highly conservative Christians (or the opposite - easy and shallow)</li>
<li>Americans are blind (ignorant) to the damage they cause in the world due to extreme levels of patriotism.</li>
<li>Americans are racist and there is huge tension between races in the US (this also links into fears of gangs etc)</li>
<li>Americans are uncultured (a strange one coming from Australians heh)</li>
<li>Americans are really fun and love wild parties (thought i would throw a more positive one in, guess it depends on your perception though)</li>
</ul>

13

<p>

People all over Europe think exactly this. It’s true to a certain extent that a very high percentage of Americans own guns in the US and it’s not unusual to see people with guns, which is very rare in Europe. it’s just tha Hollywood makes America seem like a shoot-out per-minute! In England I have never even seen a police officer with a gun as most don’t carry them.</p>

<p>

ITA with this one too. I think it is linked to the fact that most Americans people meet are tourists so either
1)They are rich to be able to afford to travel to Europe.
2)They are on holiday and hence spending more money than usual.</p>

<p>

People in the UK would interpret this as being frightingly pushy rather than friendly and be scared off (In the same way Americans interpret the Brits as being unfriendly for speaking at lower volume and not using much body language). Europeans in general interpret instant OTT friendliness as fake. like the friendliness of a salesman when he trying to sell you something. I would also recommend standing back a bit as Americans tend to have a much smaller concept of personal space and people don’t like it when perfect strangers stand too close. It makes them feel uncomfortable. I really notice this now having lived in the UK for so long that I want more air!</p>

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<p>Well Joey you’re in luck because I’m actually living in the UAE and planning to go to america next year! :slight_smile: So to help you out here are some very very common stereotypes about americans (please note that I don’t mean to be offensive or anything):
1-Americans pretty much spend their time (especially teenagers) drinking, doing drugs and having sex
2-Americans are stupid
3-All american girls pretty much look like Jesica Simpson
4-Americans don’t follow the news and have no idea about what’s going on outside there border
5-Everyone in America agree with Bush
6-Americans aren’t very religious
7-(Very very common) Murders happen everywhere, serial killers are common and crime is usual</p>

<p>I hope this helps :)</p>

15

<p>I noticed in one of your posts last month that you are a Penn student from the UAE. I’m curious, what is on your list, and how does it compare to the parents’ lists?</p>

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<p>Yep, that pretty much matches what I said was being portrayed by Hollywood movies (post #2).</p>

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<p>Yeah you’re pretty much on the spot. :)</p>

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<p>It’s pretty hard to claim that Americans aren’t rich, even those most of us don’t feel that way. I am reminded of a Spanish exchange student who was here a few years ago, living with a family in which the husband was a barber and the wife was a secretary. The family had two cars, and the Spanish student was just astounded because her family lived in an apartment and used public transport when they wanted to go anywhere. So yes, broadly speaking, we’re rich.</p>

19

<p>Coming from UAE I would think the stereotype Americans would have would be that they are very very rich - their family is probably in the oil business. I have heard other things that people have said about students/families from UAE - the gov’t is so rich they get a free car when they start to drive, the gov’t pays for their college, etc. I think coming from UAE is a bit different than coming from other Middle Eastern countries - but that is just a stereotype!</p>

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<p>I would give a lesson on American government, specifically focusing on the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution highlighting the Bill of Rights.</p>

<p>Examine and discuss freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, the separation of church and state and the value of the individual and personal freedoms as these areas define the American mindset and distinguish us from the governments in the Middle East and many other countries.</p>

<p>This lack of fear from our government is what defines America and why our citizens are so open and friendly.</p>