As an American who doesn’t live in the United States, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve introduced myself to someone and heard, “Oh, but you don’tlookAmerican!” This is usually said as a compliment, but what it sounds like to me is, “But you don’t fit all of the stereotypes I have in my mind about Americans!”Every country has stereotypes, and some are probably harmless. So what if Italians are passionate about their cuisine, and the French are passionate about their language? But how accurate are these assumptions that are carried across the globe? Redditors have recently beenaddressingthe most common stereotypes about their nations, so we’ve gathered their thoughts down below. Enjoy learning about the nations below, and keep reading to find a conversation withMomentous Institute’s Clinical Director, Alina Ramirez, Ph.D., LCSW-S!This post may includeaffiliate links.
As an American who doesn’t live in the United States, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve introduced myself to someone and heard, “Oh, but you don’tlookAmerican!” This is usually said as a compliment, but what it sounds like to me is, “But you don’t fit all of the stereotypes I have in my mind about Americans!”
Every country has stereotypes, and some are probably harmless. So what if Italians are passionate about their cuisine, and the French are passionate about their language? But how accurate are these assumptions that are carried across the globe? Redditors have recently beenaddressingthe most common stereotypes about their nations, so we’ve gathered their thoughts down below. Enjoy learning about the nations below, and keep reading to find a conversation withMomentous Institute’s Clinical Director, Alina Ramirez, Ph.D., LCSW-S!
This post may includeaffiliate links.
Irishman here, I’m too drunk to answer this properly
I’m English. Yes, we are reserved, yes we do queue in an orderly fashion and yes we will colonise you and add your culinary distinctiveness to our own.
I am from Azerbaijan. And because of the country’s name many think we are a super religious country like Iran, Afghanistan, and etc.In fact we are not. We are the 5th most secular country in the world and religion doesn’t play a role for us like it does for many other countries. We really arent religious.
To learn more about stereotypes and the harmful effects they can have, we reached out to Alina Ramirez, Ph.D., LCSW-S, Clinical Director at theMomentous Institute. Dr. Ramirez was kind enough to have a chat withBored Pandaand shine some more light on this topic.“There are both positive and negative stereotypes, yet both can have a negative impact on the person being stereotyped,” she explained. “When someone assumes something about a person, whether positive or negative, they are putting a label on that person, which may or may not be true. This can put the stereotyped person in a difficult predicament.““For example, if the seemingly positive stereotype that all people from this group are really smart has been voiced in an interaction, the person now has an additional barrier imposed upon them that may prevent them from feeling that they can be authentic or may put them in a place of having to explain or defend themselves,” Dr. Ramirez continued.
To learn more about stereotypes and the harmful effects they can have, we reached out to Alina Ramirez, Ph.D., LCSW-S, Clinical Director at theMomentous Institute. Dr. Ramirez was kind enough to have a chat withBored Pandaand shine some more light on this topic.
“There are both positive and negative stereotypes, yet both can have a negative impact on the person being stereotyped,” she explained. “When someone assumes something about a person, whether positive or negative, they are putting a label on that person, which may or may not be true. This can put the stereotyped person in a difficult predicament.”
“For example, if the seemingly positive stereotype that all people from this group are really smart has been voiced in an interaction, the person now has an additional barrier imposed upon them that may prevent them from feeling that they can be authentic or may put them in a place of having to explain or defend themselves,” Dr. Ramirez continued.
As an Italian, yes. Keep in mind that most stereotypes about Italy are actually about South Italy. But we do eat pasta and pizza like every day and we do say “mamma mia” in every sentence. We can’t help it.
When I was living in Japan, someone told me this. “Americans are stupid but clever, whereas the French are clever but stupid. We Japanese are polite but rude, whereas you Brits are rude but polite.”
We Scots do tend to swear a f*****g lot.
Dr. Ramirez also shared how stereotypes impact her personally. “As a Latina, I encounter many stereotypes about gender roles and how Latinx families function,” she noted. “The examples of the sacrificing matriarch or the tight knit family might both present with positive and negative aspects, and it is important to consider both of these. Unfortunately, I find that most stereotypes of my community do not consider the complexity of how a Latinx person self-identifies and presents themselves in different settings.““There are various contextual factors that impact a Latinx individual. These include the various regional and political differences across the numerous Latin American countries that have influenced their specific cultural norms. It also includes the generational experiences of US born Latinos as they navigate two cultures,” the expert explained.
Dr. Ramirez also shared how stereotypes impact her personally. “As a Latina, I encounter many stereotypes about gender roles and how Latinx families function,” she noted. “The examples of the sacrificing matriarch or the tight knit family might both present with positive and negative aspects, and it is important to consider both of these. Unfortunately, I find that most stereotypes of my community do not consider the complexity of how a Latinx person self-identifies and presents themselves in different settings.”
“There are various contextual factors that impact a Latinx individual. These include the various regional and political differences across the numerous Latin American countries that have influenced their specific cultural norms. It also includes the generational experiences of US born Latinos as they navigate two cultures,” the expert explained.
Aussie stereotype very true.Very laid backUp for a laughAlways rubbishing each otherDon’t mind a drinkFriendlyVery good at avoiding dangerous animals
“As a mental health clinician, I am trained to look at context and find that I am not able to fully understand and help a person, even if they happen to be Latinx, unless I am curious about both the broader cultural context and the specific individual experiences that have shaped a person. I consistently seek to identify how these factors can be protective and contribute to a person’s resiliency,” Dr. Ramirez added.
From NZI asked my ex girlfriend this question.She just looked at me with her curls hanging over her dark brown eyes, her face looking full of confusion.She didn’t seem to understand what I was asking but she’s always been the quiet one I suppose and not keen on confrontation.I was getting annoyed at this point but I needed to know.I asked her again but she turned away from me and screamedBaaaaaaaaaa!
Canadian and yes. Kinda.Super polite, fake and apologetic. Not to be f****d with but not the sort to start s**t either. Will avoid conflict until it’s unavoidable, and then it’s time for war crimes. Also poutine, plaid shirts and a loud minority of subtle racism.
Canadian here. Yes, the stereotypes are true. Sorry.
As far as where these stereotypes come from, Dr. Ramirez told Bored Panda that they are typically formed over time either through direct experiences or messages from others. “Our circle of who ‘others’ includes has expanded over time from family members, friends, and colleagues to include social media as well,” she noted.“Neurologically, stereotypes serve the purpose of helping us categorize others and interactions quickly without becoming overwhelmed. In its simplest form, these fall into safe/good or not safe/bad categories,” the expert continued. “This is why many stereotypes tend to focus on negative elements. From a survival perspective, our brains initially store negative or threatening information about others as a means of keeping us safe (emotionally or physically).”
As far as where these stereotypes come from, Dr. Ramirez told Bored Panda that they are typically formed over time either through direct experiences or messages from others. “Our circle of who ‘others’ includes has expanded over time from family members, friends, and colleagues to include social media as well,” she noted.
“Neurologically, stereotypes serve the purpose of helping us categorize others and interactions quickly without becoming overwhelmed. In its simplest form, these fall into safe/good or not safe/bad categories,” the expert continued. “This is why many stereotypes tend to focus on negative elements. From a survival perspective, our brains initially store negative or threatening information about others as a means of keeping us safe (emotionally or physically).”
Brazil: football (soccer) is a f*****g religion.
I’m Portuguese and I’m short, heavy, hairy and love wine, cheese and woman.
I am totally tired of the stereotype that Finns are somehow super alcoholic. Alcohol consumption is in line with similar European countries, and I don’t think it’s really that accepted anymore to drink a lot. Back in the day, this was kind of a game of how much you can drink in one sitting. But, the new generation sees this sort of behavior as hickish. There’s also not much of a culture of constant or daytime drinking. Most jobs require you to be sober during the working day. I’ve seen literally only two people drink during the working day, this was at 4 pm and one of them wasn’t even Finnish to begin with.Another one is “shy” or “silent”. I think this stems from misunderstanding of Finnish politeness customs. Finns have a very steep gradient in how intensively they interact with total strangers vs. close relations like family or close friends. If they don’t know you, they’re trying to keep out of your way and not bother you with useless small talk, and that’s polite.
The stereotypes about us Americans are exaggerated for sure, but not without merit.
Yes we live in windmills and we wear wooden shoes. We all cultivate tulips and c****s and everyone is high as fk all the time
Romanians are not gypsies, gypsies are a minority, and the country it looks and is a lot better than you imagine it to be…just check out some travel vlogs from foreigners.
“You might notice a shift in your heart rate or breathing or some other ‘gut’ sensation when in certain environments. Notice this. Be curious about this. Ask yourself, what am I reacting to? And once you answer that, the next step is to question why,” the expert says. “What is my belief about this person, and where does this come from? What do I know about the person in front of me?”
I’m Danish and I’m miserable. Go figure.
“When you see something on social media, be open to the possibility that the information might not be completely accurate,” Dr. Ramirez continued. “What is the source and what might be the motivation of that source to push a certain narrative. At the heart of this is curiosity, both about others as well as our own thinking. Stereotypes tend to thrive when curiosity is absent. Of course, the more we interact with others in a meaningful way, the more opportunity we have to break down our preconceptions of them and the groups they may represent.”
Italians seductive? F**k no, we are a bunch of dumb misogynists (men) and pretentious pricks (women) with absolutely no right to be lolI have so many international friends and not one of them was happy after dating an Italian 😂
Nobody sat next to each other, talked, or even smiled to other people during the entire bus trip this morning.I’m norwegian alright.
IrishLaid back and friendly: CheckCripplingly cynical and judgemental: Check
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Fat American checking in here. I don’t own any guns but pretty much everyone I know does. And as an Austin Tx native. I’m pretty liberal, love music and eat tacos and bbq all the time.
Greece: yes we are loud, we are always late and we religiously believe we have the best food in the world.However, we dont smash plates screaming opa on a daily basis. I’d say keep that for a wedding and if that!! Kinda starts to die
I’m from London and I constantly hear “the land of knives and stabbing”Is it true? Sort of. Knife crime is definitely a problem but you have a higher chance of witnessing or you yourself being robbed than being stabbed.The UK having bad food; I disagree. The UK has the best range and quality of ethnic food in Europe. If I want curry, Thai, Mexican, Japanese food, I can probably find a good and close to authentic place in the bigger cities. London especially.
People say french (but especially Parisiens) are rude and arrogant or something. I’ve been to other countries and spoke to non-french people and it just seemed like they had much more of a “filter” than french people do so that might explain it.
I always thought that Germans were really nice. The language sounds harsh, the people aren’t By nationality, I’m Belgian and Luxembourgish. They each love talking about stereotypes of the other country, so I get to hear about them all the time. Belgians are apparently dumb and drunk all the time. Dumb? No, but the prime minister singing La Marseillaise instead of the Belgian anthem did not help with that particular stereotype. Drunk? They do love their beer, but to be entirely honest, the Luxembourgish tend to drink a lot more often in my experience. Luxembourgers (the word always cracks me up) are apparently stuck-up, rich and narrow-minded. To be entirely honest, some are are stuck-up and narrow-minded, but it tends to be my generation. They grew up with parents who were able to make a lot of money just because they were in the right country at the right time (and worked for it!). The older generation has been able to get good, well-paying jobs without a the degrees that would be required nowadays. But, they worked hard and they took advantage of Luxembourg’s languages (German, English, French). They tend to have a lot of general knowledge and common sense. The younger generation on the other hand, often seemed to expect to go down the same path as their parents and grandparents, but in a world where degrees are an absolute must. A lot don’t speak the languages (I’ve even met some that only speak Luxembourgish) and lack the common sense and general knowledge that the older generation has. The older generation has raised a very entitled younger generation, who is growing up in a country where the price of life is constantly rising and who will soon not be able to live there anymore.
We Italians are seductive, spend half of our day in front of the mirror, and constantly gesticulate when we talk.
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Americans are an arrogant lot.
as a half egyptian half lebanese and british I would say egyptian people will always try to scam you (of course not ALL people but the majority)
the stereotype about people from my country is that we never finis
Pakistan: • Religious - Am I religious? Yes. Are most of us religious? Yes. Are all of us religious? Definitely no • Corrupt - Yes • Poor - Are some of us poor? Yes. Are there hyper rich people among us too? Yes. • Cousin Marriage - Yes.
Macedonians are terrible to each other but extremely welcoming with great hospitality and friendliness to foreigners.
The Dutch stereotype of being greedy with our money is true, we love our money and we hate spending our money… Unless it’s weed for some reason
Not all Filipinos are gold diggers 😅 Most people here are educated and competitive in working, specially when they immigrate.Although, some women (or men) here also marry older foreign men because it’s the foreigner’s choice. ✓low maintenance wife ✓affordable country ✓aged care.Some foreigners are very unlucky tho, specially those who search for girlfriends from popular beer houses 😪
Well it’s a bit complicated for india because it’s very region based. R**e? For sure in the north but in many parts of the south a girl can go out alone at like 2am and be fine. Good at math? Nah it’s just that the ones that are really good at math get famous or successful and the rest are nothing special. Above average sure but not anything like stereotypes would have you believe. Plus a lot of it is practicing specific types of questions. If you get something you haven’t practiced you’re f****d.
We have a machismo problem here in Jordan, but unlike most people I think the women are partly to blame for this, especially when in Jordanian culture it is the women that are expected to play a.much more active role in raising kids until their early teens. Boys from a young age are taught that they have to be the provider, the protector, and should not act in a sensitive manner (cry, seek emotional support). Even seeking help from a mental health professional like a psychologist would make fellow Jordanians see men (women too sometimes) as a bit on the crazy side. I had first hand experience with my ex, who told me to man up when I was being vulnerable and getting emotional about it. I ended up marrying a non Jordanian who matches so well with me on an emotional/intellectual level, it really has been such a boost to my mental health that she hears and acknowledges the mental issues I go through every now and then, no judgement, as I also do for her. But for a.lot of other Jordanian men, they have to keep their emotions bottled up to keep from being labeled too soft to handle the responsibilites expected of them. And keeping emotions bottled up may make men do things out of deep seated anger and frustration that they otherwise wouldn’t do. As a result, that is why Jordanian men can come off as kind of aggressive, and that aggression in turn can make them do things that try to impress women but really make them look really sad and perverted. Little boys need fathers to be more involved in their lives, to show them that it’s okay to be in touch with their emotions and to be more confident in themselves instead of acting out of a desire to fit the mold of traditionally toxic expectations. Sorry for the rant.
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