By Zhang Wei Wei
We live in a world full of cultural diversities and it is normal for us to have certain pre-conceived notions about people who live in a different part of the world. People always hear of some stories and quickly tend to have generalized ideas in their minds for those belonging to foreign lands. It seems completely mature to prevent yourself from stereotypes, but it is not an easy thing to do. China and its inhabitants have faced a large number of stereotypes from the outer world over the years. People who haven’t actually visited the country have a perception way different from reality. Let’s talk about some stereotypes that many foreigners seem to have in his or her mind while heading to China for the first time.
“Everything in China is cheap”
China, as we all know, is the most populous country in the world. It holds one of the world’s largest economies and is one of the fastest developing countries. China is notable for manufacturing, producing, and trading. As for the prices of commodities, there surely are a lot of things that are inexpensive in China compared to other countries, as most of them are made in China. But this doesn’t mean that everything here is cheap or low-quality. There are just as many high-end, high-quality, original and innovative brands that are available in China as in any other country. The low prices show their self-producing economy rather than the goods being fake.
“All Chinese people look the same”
This is one of the most ignorant and absurd stereotypes about Chinese people. For forever, there has been a typical Chinese profile in foreigners’ minds that all Chinese people are short, lean and have similar facial features. Given the facts, for example, China has a diverse number of ethnic groups. We can easily understand that their facial features and body structure vary with identity. For instance, many Chinese ethnicities are known for a taller, more slender figure and facial structure while others may carry a shorter, rounder profile. The majority of Chinese people prioritize a healthy lifestyle while there are also some chubby and heavy guys. There are equally diverse and distinct from each other from other countries.
“Chinese people are rude”
People, who have never been to China personally, tend to have a notion that the Chinese are rude and cold. But once you meet them in reality, you may realize how pleasant and virtuous they actually are. You come across Chinese people that are so nice and easy-going. Rationally, when you stay at a place with a population of roughly 1.4 billion, you will encounter a plethora of different personalities. You’ll meet the ones who are eager to have pictures with you and those who will pass by you as if you are invisible. Once you are in China, you understand that Chinese culture is very intimate and if someone unfamiliar approaches you, you will be receptive rather than offended.
“Chinese people are all Kungfu masters”
One of the major stereotypes that most foreigners take along with them before going to China is that everyone there is a Kungfu master. You might be tempted to ask a Chinese person about this, yet, most of them will consider it a ridiculous question. They can’t really fly or smash anyone into the wall. A lot of Chinese people do practice Tai Chi as a way to keep in good health. But that’s pretty much to do.
“Chinese people eat dogs”
In Guangxi province of China, The Yulin Dog Meat Festival is held every summer. This might be a reason why foreigners think that everyone in China eats dog meat. But the truth is that the festival is protested by many Chinese themselves. And, yes, not every Chinese people are into eating dogs or cats.
“Chinese people wear glasses and are good at maths”
It is almost a preset for American dramas or movies related to Chinese is that there is a Chinese playing the role of a nerd wearing super thick glasses. That character appears to have the highest grades in all his subjects, hides in the corners are anti-social and cannot play any sports. Being smart is a compliment but the way they portray Chinese, makes people obtain a wrong impression about Chinese teenagers as a whole. They love to gain knowledge, while at the same time, they are excellent in sports and other activities.
Besides these, there are many other stereotypes that the Chinese have to face. Everyone has encountered a moment in their life when some kind of stereotypes were imprinted so hard in their minds that they almost took it as reality. It will not be wrong to say that stereotypes are a bit like air: invisible but always going to be there. Media might have played a vital role in forming people’s perceptions about groups or individuals with who they otherwise might have little or no exposure or interaction. People tend to believe what they want to believe rather than carrying out deep research by themselves and this way, the things we hear get saturated in our mind and become rather a conceived reality.
Login to add a comment