<p>I think the following is a good definition of a stereotype: “A too-simple and therefore distorted image of a group, such as “Football players are stupid” or “The English are cold and unfriendly people.””</p>
<p>A shared characteristic is not necessarily a stereotype. Thus (for example), it might be a stereotype to say “Jews don’t eat pork,” but I don’t think it would be a stereotype to say “Orthodox Jews don’t eat pork.”</p>
<p>Hunt:
I suppose Asia extends halfway across the world and it is multi-religious, multi-ethnic etc. Therefore, if ‘Asian Stereotype’ holds sway over American consciousness, it is a huge mistake!</p>
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<p>Actually there is some genetics involved. It deals with how well the liver treats and detoxifies alcohol, which of course involves a fair bit of enzymes and a bunch of biochemical pathways which are of course regulated by genes that have to be selected for … 
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<p>Many people of East Asian descent (I haven’t tried drinking anything more than the wine you find in steak yet so I have yet to know my own phenotype :D) have different detox systems such that they get instant hangovers (in their bodies, ethanol breaks down into a second product that causes the hangover) – and almost never get drunk.</p>
<p>I think the Asian stereotype we’re talking about here is not something that necessarily applies to people in Asia; it’s more about a subset of Asian immigrant parents in the U.S. It’s really an immigrant stereotype, which is why it’s so similar to the (somewhat fading) stereotype of Jews.</p>
<p>Hunt, I refuse to dignify them by repeating them here, but there are and have always been a lot of “stereotypes” of Jews, and other groups, that are a lot more malicious, if not downright hateful, than the comparatively benign ones you use (similar to the original thread story.) Would we like to talk about stereotypes of African-Americans, Native Americans, Jews in Germany in the '30s, Japanese-Americans during WW2, and a million more? (I’d rather not, myself.)</p>
<p>The point is not that this thread contains that kind of hatefulness, but that to ever make statements about there always being a grain of truth in a stereotype is, in my eyes, perpetuating a lot of bad stuff.</p>
<p>Stereotypes often say more about the stereotyper, as you pointed out in the example of prejudices toward immigrants; this conveys nothing about the truth of the stereotype, but rather the ignorance of the bigoted.</p>
<p>(Edit: again adding, I’m not meaning this as a comment on the OP, but a more general discussion of the nature and pitfalls of stereotypes in general.)</p>
<p>I certainly agree with you that there are stereotypes much worse than “my son, the doctor.” I think that a previous poster said that there is always a reason for the stereotype, which I think is different from saying that there is a grain of truth in it. The reason can be a wholly nefarious one, or it can be that grain of truth.</p>
<p>Wow I just don’t get the “grain of truth in stereotypes” argument at all. )I didn’t click on this thread until today, because I didn’t think I’d like it and I was right.)</p>
<p>Likewise, I don’t get the “lighten up and laugh at yourself” argument.</p>
<p>We all know that we can make fun of our own groups, but for others to do so is unsavory, as that “grain of truth” coming from someone outside of the group is often hurtful.</p>
<p>Also don’t get the “I didn’t believe it until I saw it” argument, as if then it’s okay.</p>
<p>But perhaps I shouldn’t have posted and just let this thread die its deserved death.</p>
<p>“But perhaps I shouldn’t have posted and just let this thread die its deserved death.”</p>
<p>You should post if you think that you have something to contribute. Do you?</p>
<p>Yes, I did - “We all know that we can make fun of our own groups, but for others to do so is unsavory, as that “grain of truth” coming from someone outside of the group is often hurtful.”</p>
<p>Based on your retort, however, as I said, perhaps it was not wise to contribute this.</p>
<p>“Based on your retort, however, as I said, perhaps it was not wise to contribute this.”</p>
<p>There was no retort. There was a question in which I looked forward to your insight. Don’t assume or presume because you don’t know me.</p>
<p>whatever you say.</p>
<p>Zoosermom – I think you accomplished more than you wanted or hoped to in your original posting and that you started an uncomfortable discussion of stereotypes. I think that a discussions of different opinions of stereotypes is a great topic!! As I wrote earlier I did not think your post was offensive. It was simply a reporting of your observation and reaction to an event. I think it is a worthwhile discussion and does not necessarily need to die a deserved death. It’s uncomfortable, that’s for sure, but interesting nonetheless. </p>
<p>Galoisien – You wrote that genetics can explain some of the reasons why different groups can tolerate alcohol differently and why some ethnic groups are more prone to develop alcoholism. This may be true…I’m no expert here… but my point was that some stereotypes are more flattering than others. The stereotype of overachieving Asian students with over-involved parents does not seem especially negative to me.</p>
<p>As for my own ethnicity – I love St. Patrick’s Day and appreciate that there is an annual day to celebrate my ancestry! It is for most, however, a day that is associated with major alcohol assumption and it reinforces the stereotype of the drunken Irishman. Irish Ancestry is the second most common group in this country (German is first) so I suppose while it is a stereotype I would expect that most would simply recognize it as a stereotype and not make broad assumptions that all people of Irish descent drink too much. I hope not anyway! Anyway, America is a delicious crazy tossed salad and not boring melted mush!</p>
<p>So thanks for the information and I guess that the many non-Irish that overindulge on St. Patrick’s Day should consider their ethnic ancestry before going for one more pint of Guinness. Also maybe I have a touch of that East Asian blood from a hundred or so generations ago…as I also have a low tolerance for alcohol and can easily suffer a hangover so I tend to rarely overindulge!! </p>
<p>Further reading on the subject of stereotypes…below is a link to a piece written in 1890 by Jacob Riis who was a journalist and photographer. His ethnic observations and over-the-top stereotypes of many different ethnic groups make for very uncomfortable reading. The United States was a different place in 1890 and it is fortunate for us that Jacob Riis’s broad characterizations were overcome by many in the ethnic groups that he so narrowly defines in his writings.</p>
<p>[How</a> the Other Half Lives](<a href=“Welcome | American Studies”>Welcome | American Studies)
[Jacob</a> Riis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Riis]Jacob”>Jacob Riis - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>Thank you AdvicePlease. Great link. And thank you for sharing your insights. There is a history of my posts in simply asking for people to share their experience because I view my participation here as a conversation about different topics. This thread is no different.</p>
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<p>Well now, let’s see…:rolleyes: Which stereptype would you rather be labeled with: a). “Asians are smart.” b). “Blacks are less intelligent than other races.” </p>
<p>???</p>
<p>“I’m no expert here… but my point was that some stereotypes are more flattering than others. The stereotype of overachieving Asian students with over-involved parents does not seem especially negative to me.”</p>
<p>I think you and Galosien bring up a great point. There is, to me, a difference between stereotypes based on common behavior and stereotypes based on something innate, something physical or outside of one’s control. For example, my community is stereotyped as a bunch of orange, Sopranos-wannabes but whose fault is that? Many of us choose to be orange.</p>
<p>People of Irish descent, as well as those of other Northern European descent, are far more likely to have higher levels of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which is the major factor in drinking ability. Women have less of it than men. People of Irish descent might not be alcoholics or drink too much, but they’re more likely to have the ability to do so than other groups. </p>
<p>Another fun fact: Northern Europeans are the group least likely statistically to be lactose intolerant as adults. More lactase ( the lactose-digesting enzyme) production.</p>
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<p>Even so, it often does a disservice to us. I’d like to be regarded as an individual and not just a unit within a collective … </p>
<p>“I worked my butt off for my linear algebra exam…”
Valedictorian, nonchalantly: “Asians are good at everything, anyways …”</p>
<p>I remember a story about a misinformed mother whose prejudices are ultimately insulting to her son’s black friend even though on the outside her remarks were helpful and sympathetic. (“Oh, your father must be big and strong factory worker … oh you poor thing! Do you need extra clothes? I have some I can give to you …”)</p>
<p>I like hearing everyone’s opinions. Stereotypes or not, that’s how I learn about people and what they think. So thanks Zoosermom !</p>
<p>My family’s oral history was that we used to get spat on and had rocks thrown at us , that people said we lived like pigs because we live in such over crowded conditions. So “Asians are smart” is not bad at all. Pity my s don’t fit that stereotype. :p</p>
<p>" are far more likely to have higher levels of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which is the major factor in drinking ability."</p>
<p>That is incorrect. For those able to drink alcohol, it is because they have a form of alcohol dehydrogenase that is essentially inactive at physiological pH. Hence the ingested alcohol stay in their blood stream and they get the ethanol buzz. For those who cannot drink, it is because they have a form of alcohol dehydrogenase that is active, converting alcohol quickly to acetaldehyde, which gives the flushing, headache and fries their liver. They never get the alcohol buzz since it doesn’t stay long enough to get to the brain.</p>
<p>“That is incorrect. For those able to drink alcohol, it is because they have a form of alcohol dehydrogenase that is essentially inactive at physiological pH. Hence the ingested alcohol stay in their blood stream and they get the ethanol buzz. For those who cannot drink, it is because they have a form of alcohol dehydrogenase that is active, converting alcohol quickly to acetaldehyde, which gives the flushing, headache and fries their liver. They never get the alcohol buzz since it doesn’t stay long enough to get to the brain.”</p>
<p>That is truly fascinating. Where else do we get to learn these things?</p>