For those who don’t know, a stereotype is a fixed and generalized belief about a particular group or class of people.
Maybe you’ve seen a TV report or heard someone saying Americans are patriots, hard workers or workaholics, obsessed with fast food, fierce consumerists, etc. These are some examples of stereotypes that people in other countries have seen about Americans.
The use of stereotypes simplifies our social world as they reduce the number of thoughts we must have when we meet a new person. The advantage of stereotypes is that they allow us to respond quickly to situations because we may have had a similar experience before. The downside is that it makes us ignore differences between individuals, and even leads us to think things that may not be true.
There are positive and negative stereotypes, and their adoption depends on the behavior of the group and the individual observing the group.
For example, Americans have more work hours than many other countries. Because of this, some people might attribute to Americans the positive stereotype that they work hard, while others might think they’re workaholics. And this depends on each person’s work pace. People who have a slower pace will likely believe Americans work too much, while people who have a faster pace will believe Americans are hardworking. In other words, our awareness of the positive or negative characteristics of another culture will depend on our own cultural perspective and experience.
I have a personal example of this. In Brazil, people have a less accelerated and intense work pace than Americans, in addition to more holidays and longer vacation time. But when I arrived in the US and realized the American work pace, I was surprised and thought Americans were workaholics. After developing a bit of cultural awareness, I realized Americans believe they need to work hard to grow professionally. I was able to understand the way they think and respect them over time.
After developing a bit of cultural awareness, I realized that Americans have a mindset that they need to work hard to grow professionally. I was able to understand the way they think and respect them over time.
The cultural knowledge of a particular group or cultural class is very important before adopting stereotypes. If we understand the motivations for certain behaviors, it’ll help us to avoid making mistakes, as not all people in a group are the same.
Explanations aside, I assume you’re curious about American stereotypes. I did some research on the main generalizations made about Americans and the motivations behind them. Here are some positive stereotypes I found:
“Americans are positive and optimistic” 😄
Americans have many examples of people who have prospered in their lives through dedication and hard work. This is the famous “American Dream”. In this sense, Americans tend to believe they can accomplish their dreams if they work hard enough. This belief generates positivity and optimism.
“Americans are generous” 👐
The data shows that 72% of Americans financially help countries devastated by natural disasters or involved in some type of conflict, and 42% of Americans are involved in some type of volunteerism.
My friends organized everything and paid out of their own pockets.
I had a personal experience with American generosity when I got pregnant. I had two baby showers which my friends organized and paid for everything out of their own pockets; whereas in my country, parents are the ones who usually provide for the shower. On top of that, my friends constantly asked me about the shower details and were even ready to prepare typical Brazilian foods for me to feel at home. I have never seen such generosity and love!
“Americans are creative and innovative” 😎
Americans are creative and innovative because they believe they can do many things if they work hard enough. Proof of this is how the USA has a history of being ahead of other countries when it comes to advancements in the world. The country ushered in the industrial age, shifting production from manual labor to automated factories, built the first car, made modern skyscrapers a norm in giant cities, landed on the moon, was at the forefront of the technology boom, and developed some of the most advanced software in use today, including social media.
Today I know that if I’m struggling to use an item, it’s probably because I don’t know how to use it.
In particular, I was amazed when I got to the US. Americans have machines and equipment to facilitate daily activities. I remember running into situations where I had no idea how to use certain technology! Things here were made to make my life easier, not harder.
“Americans are patriotic” 🇺🇸
Americans are taught from childhood to be proud of their country. At school, children sing the Oath of Allegiance every morning before school starts; at amateur and professional games, people sing the national anthem. The biggest symbol of American patriotism is the American flag which isn’t hard to find. And on the 4th of July, Americans celebrate the country’s independence by wearing the colors of their flag, joining parades, cookouts, and watching fireworks.
Many Americans believe in the excellence of their country, defending it with the utmost fidelity. On the other hand, honoring the country so highly makes some crowds (even Americans themselves) say Americans are arrogant for thinking too highly of their country. While this may be true of some people, there are many others who realize the US isn’t perfect.
Final Thoughts 💭
What did you think of the stereotypes I presented? Did you already know them? Were you able to think about the differences between Americans and your culture? How do you define positivity, generosity, creativity, and patriotism in your country? Feel free to share in the comments– I’d very much like to know about where you come from!
I have plenty more stereotypes to talk about, but I don’t want to overwhelm you with too much reading. Stay tuned and see you in the next post for part 2!
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References
Abadi, Mark. “I’ve been to 25 counties, and these are the 7 worst stereotypes I’ve heard about Americans”. Insider, 23rd June 2018. https://www.businessinsider.com/stereotypes-of-americans-usa-2018-6#and-they-dont-even-understand-soccer-7.
Balderas, Christopher. “15 USA stereotypes that are totally inaccurate (10 that are 100% true). The Travel, 29th Nov. 2018. https://www.thetravel.com/usa-stereotypes-inaccurate-true/.
“Common stereotypes about Americans”. YouTube, uploaded by The Infographics Show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCTTc_2W7rA.
McLeod, Saul. “Stereotypes”. SimplyPhsychology, 2017. https://www.simplypsychology.org/katz-braly.html.
“9 American stereotypes: true or false?” YouTube, uploaded by Speak English with Vanessa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofrryYmOBqQ.
Pandey, Erica. “America the generous: U.S. leads globe in giving”. Axios, 12th Mar. 2022. https://www.axios.com/2022/03/09/america-charitable-giving-stats-ukraine.
“Stereotypes of Americans”. Wikipedia, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypes_of_Americans.
“Truth or myth: Americans react to stereotypes”. YouTube, uploaded by Dating Beyond Borders. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjFhKNQs-Ls&t=63s.
“Why Americans work so much”. Humanities Unveiled, 19th Apr. 2019. https://medium.com/humanities-unveiled/why-americans-work-6fa09bb93d48#:~:text=The%20explanation%20is%20quite%20simple,Americans%20have%20not.
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