Stereotype
October 17, 2009 
Stereotype is a generalised beliefs by which we make sense of the world around us, regardless of context or accuracy. I believe each of us have a certain stereotype towards certain group of people, be it knowingly or subconsciously. People normally have this assumption of similarity (A refusal to see true difference where they exist between self and others) towards a certain group of people. Singaporeans often have a common stereotype of china people being loud, rude and unhygienic. In the previous communication lecture, a guy said that he thinks China people of all ages tend to not shave their underarms (laugh out loud). Although I do have some China friends, I have never notice their underarms, so I have no answer to whether that view of his is true.
At first before working at Cafe Cartel, I really think China people are rude, loud and unhygienic but after knowing my colleagues mostly from China and Malaysia my perception of China people changed. I realise they are very different from my common stereotype of china people; they are all very friendly, funny and hygienic people. Really hope this helps to improve your impression of China people, they are just innocent individuals who are trying to earn a living in singapore.
At the link below it show an article that mixed couple could not marry. I did not know that prejudices (negative social attitudes held by members of one group towards members of another group) among blacks and the whites are so serious n the western regions. A justice of peace actually refused to issue licenses of marriage to an interracial couple and this is not the first time he does that. His reason for doing so is that he thinks that the children that the couple have in future will actually suffer. I think he meant it as goodwill as he knew how the whites are discounting (see them as not part of the main stream or not very important) the blacks. Ethnocentrism is also a problem hence resulting in the justice of peace refusing to administrate the marriage of the interracial couples. However, I think there is no problem between interracial marriages as long as the couples are happy and blissful; Chinese marrying Caucasians or Chinese marrying Malays are a common scene in Singapore. Maybe interracial marriages are not so common in New Orleans resulting in this incident.
Link: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/World/Story/STIStory_443387.html
Yeah, i agreed to what u had mention about people having different stereotypes. I’m glad that u change your opinion towards the chinese and i also do hope that many people who are now like the past you, will change their thoughts towards them too
Well, I guess sterotype has been an existing problems from the past to the present its just that we are unaware of it because we are not exposed to it in our society in singapore. Although we are lucky not to experience it here, things can be pretty awful for the minorities in countries like America as you said ethocentrism is present there. The fact that they put themselves on a higher position actually creates a barrier for them to understand more about the world and other groups hence resulting in miscommunications and conflicts. Perhaps its time for those who always put themselves on the top to actually look around and learn to respect others culture instead of just seeing themselves at the top and expect everyone to feel the same as them.
We are actually exposed to it in Singapore but not at a great extent because our government have been emphasizing on racial harmony day and setting quotas for the allocation of different ethnic groups in flats.
sterotype is everywhere! But I do agree that you said that alot of Singaporeans have the sterotype for China people and further agree that not all China people are like that! My best friend is from China also, but she is very nice! But i guess there is this portion of China people who spoil their image and thus implicating the rest of the China people. Thus, we should learn to understand people more in depth. Some Singaporeans have negative aspects also, but does that mean that all Singaporean are not good?
I think people should try to get rid of the assumption of similarity that they have on people that are different from them. I go with you that we do not generalise Singaporean negatively although we do see some that are rude. This is just their personal bias towards Singaporean as they are Singaporean.
hihihi, ShuangHui has grown up! From what she is written, I know she make sense in every sentence that she typed in.
Yes, Stereotype is a very typical behaviour that can be found among us, Singaporeans.
Yes, It is not a favourable thing. But we can’t help it right?
Regarding peeps from China, I think we should not generalise all of them as unhygenic, no courtesy & etc..
This is being biased in our mind & is unfair to them as well.
Besides, are all Singaporeans that hygenic and polite?
I am always mature, Jess you just do not understand me well enough (haha).I agree that not all Singaporeans are hygienic and polite, it is just that people fail to see that actually there is not much difference between them and the other people of different race other than physical appearances and cultural belief. May be a real interaction between each different race or nationality of people can make us get rid of the common stereotype that people hold for those who they do not know but is different in terms of nationality.
I agree that sterotyping is an existing problem even in modern society. One such common example will be racial discrimination due to stereotyping. This could be a serious issue especially for a multi-racial country like Singapore. I feel that the problem of sterotyping arises due lack of understanding which eventually leads to generalisation of a certain group of people. Hence, I believe that in order to solve the problem of sterotyping one should try to learn and interact more with people who are different from them. This is just like what Shuang Hui had stated in her post that to be able to work with people from China has allow her to change her impression about them and address misconception.
Thanks for agreeing with me. I go with you on the point that stereotyping can be quite a serious issue in a multi-racial country like Singapore if there is the repetition of the racial riots that happen a few years back, it would definitely be devastating for the economy of Singapore.
Well, I think we should all adopt cultural relativism when treating people from a different culture from us. Stereotyping them as a particular kind of person will just make matters worse.
I am for intercultural marriages!
I feel that I am one who take a rather objective view towards people from countries like China and India even though they are often being stereotyped by others. However, I met with several experiences of them doing things which fit into those stereotypes. So actually, I feel that sometimes, it’s not us who want to discriminate them but rather, it’s themselves who make us think that way.
=)Kai Ting
I really think there is nothing wrong with intercultural marriage, marriage is about the couple and why should they be subjected to people’s view and objection.
May be it is just the few people that you encounter that fit into the stereotype but it is not a good thing to judge a book by its cover. Even though, the differenct encounters may let you hold that stereotype but there are also Singaporeans that are rude or uncivilised as well. We will not want people to group us according to the actions of those people, hence we should really learn to let go of our generalised negative opinion of a group of people and understand them by who they are individually.
There is nothing wrong with intercultural marriage but because of the racism and discrimination against the blacks that white Americans have since they were young, intercultural marriage there might seem very wrong. I think the Justice of Peace (who is a white) shouldn’t be doing this since he works for the nation and it’s really unfair to not let them get married because of the intercultural. He’s more like putting in personal feelings (of being racist/discriminative) into his work.
I also thinks that he is very unprofessional by putting in his own personla feelings into his work. As a Justice of Peace isn’t he suppose to be fair and just? thanks for commenting.
stereotyping is a result of the culture we are in. just like in singapore, we are so academically driven that those we deviate from the norm(those who did not perform as well academically) will be treated with scrunity. This is inevitable but what is most important is that we change our perception.
i think people normally look down on those that are not from the express stream or those that went to ITE. This is even seen in Jack Neo’s movie “I not stupid”. Yes learn to see others in a better light, they might be trying to climb up the ladder but just not having the ability at the moment. Never look down on anyone they may have talents that are undermine or are not discovered.