American Stereotypes of China

US writer Todd C. Ames concludes his two-part discussion of the ways in which Chinese and Americans opine of separately other, and the near common misunderstandings that arise AMERICANS dont know much about China. What they do know comes from three main sources movies, the news, and history classes. This can be a sensitive subject, and I do not wish to offend all iodin my remnant is only to give you an overview of American embosss of China. Just as I get encountered galore(postnominal) stereotypes that the Chinese use up of America ( more(prenominal) or less accurate, some absurd, some insulting), one can similarly encounter American stereotypes of China in the US. all(prenominal) Chinese know kungfu and dress like Huang Feihong. (Source Jet Li, Jackie Chan, and Bruce Lee Li Xiaolong movies). Any matter to do with China is ancient and mysterious. (Source the fact that Chinese run-in seems to be make up of mysterious symbols to western eyes, movies about Chinese history ).All Chinese be brainwashed into worshipping Chairman Mao and cant think independently. (Source studying the pagan Revolution in high school school history classes. ) Guangdonghua (Cantonese) is the official language of China. Source Hong Kong movies, Chinese-American immigrants who came to the US from Guangdong and Hong Kong during the 19th and 20th centuries). Chinese culture is essentially the same today as it was 1,000 years ago (eg, traditional, conservative, polite, etc. ). (Source studying Chinese history without being familiar with innovative China). In China, no one can express any idea that isnt approved by Chairman Mao if you do express an unapproved idea, you will be this instant sent to jail or shot. (Source studying the cultural revolution (1966-76)in high school history classes, the events of 1989 in Beijing). Chinese (and all Asiatics) are unattackable at maths. (Source I dont know). China and japan are basically the same. (Source ignorance). Asian wom en are generally subservient to men, anti-feminist, and more morally pure than Western women. (Source movies about ancient Japan, cultural differences. This stereotype is again the result of ignorance of modern China and thinking that todays China is truly 12th-century ancient Japan). Chinese stereotypes of US As an American, I can give you a unique scene on the Chinese stereotypes of the US that I have encountered.Some of them really made me laugh as Im sure some of the above American stereotypes of China made you laugh. Americans dont care about their families very much. The opposite is true. roughly every American will tell you that family is the most important thing in life. Most Americans have AIDS and have rouse in the streets. Im still laughing at this one. One of my friends told me that she thought this was true earlier coming to the US. Mixed heathenish background = intelligence. The more mixed your ethnic background, the smarter you must be.This kind of thinkin g is truly confusing and shocking to most Americans. Many Americans would even consider this kind of thinking racist, as some sort of inversion of Hitlers race purity theories. In any case, I was really surprised to hear this from virtually every Chinese I know. Almost all Americans have a diverse and mixed ethnic background so we must all be geniuses. All American men are se lang (lecher). (Source cultural differences. ) The crime rate is so high in the US that your life is always in danger. This is a vast exaggeration. The US has the most socially liberal society in the world, especially when it comes to sex. This idea comes from Hollywood and it couldnt be more false. The US in general (especially the Midwest) is very socially conservative. Virtually every European res publica has a much more liberal and open view of sex and social relations in general compared to the US. In my opinion, the US is circumferent to China in this respect than to European countries. You plausi bly dont believe me, just now if you get to know some Americans, you will see that it is true.As furthest as social relations and sex go, I would put Japan and Europe in one category. And I would put China and the US in one category. All Western countries are basically the same. This stereotype is the mirror of the American stereotype that all Eastern countries (China, Japan, Korea, etc. ) are basically the same. Both stereotypes are completely false and are rigorously based on the perception that all foreigners look alike. Most American college students dont study, party all of the time, and are ignorant of the outside world.This stereotype is jolly accurate. Every American owns a gun. Roughly 25 per cent of American adults own a gun, which is extremely high compared to most other countries. solely still, the vast majority of Americans do not own guns. Food In general, Americans love Chinese food. Chinese and Italian food are probably the two most general types of food in th e US. However, most of the Chinese food you will bring out in US restaurants is Americanized. You probably wont find things like stomach or intestines on the menu. Also, pork is not so popular in the US.Beef and chicken are much more popular in the US than pork. So dont be surprised if many Americans you meet dont like pork. One food stereotype that I have encountered among Chinese (and everyone else outside the US) is that all Americans eat McDonalds. I dont have any friends who like McDonalds. I hate it. Everyone I know hates it. I think McDonalds is probably more popular in other countries than it is here in the US. Of course, it is popular to some degree but it tends to be more popular among certain segments of society than others.