What Are Some of the Problems With Stereotypes or Cultural Bias When Looking at Families?
As with any other state, nosotros Brits are subject to our fair share of cultural stereotypes.
While, to a greater or lesser caste, in that location's an element of truth in some of them, you'll soon notice that many are comically far from the truth! That'southward not to say that nosotros deny responsibility; many of the stereotypes almost the British are of our own making, and it gets worse if you get into region-specific stereotypes, like the range of things said about the Scottish and Welsh. Yet, it'south certainly the case that visitors can come to Britain with somewhat inaccurate expectations of what they'll detect hither. In this article, nosotros're going to debunk some of the myths and assistance you get to know us a little amend.
ane. We're all all-time mates with Prince William
Mention to someone from some other land that you're from Britain, and ane of the responses you may run across is "Do you know Prince William?" And in that question, you lot might just equally well substitute the heir to the British throne with whatever other member of the Royal Family. Judging by the book of Royal memorabilia sold to tourists each year, it would seem that our Royals are one of the things that not-Brits most love about united states. Even those of us who live in United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland are fascinated past them, particularly since William and Kate have come to the fore as the monarchy's 21st century ambassadors.
While it's very gratifying that our monarchy generates then much involvement from overseas, U.k. is a state with a population of 63.23 million people. Funnily enough, we're not all personally acquainted with the Royals, even though many of united states of america volition happily dig out our chestnut about "the day nosotros saw the Queen" or about our brief run into with one of the more than modest members of the Royal Family. Only, while we may be on outset name terms with them, they're sadly non on first name terms with us.
2. We all alive in a gloriously idealised London
In the imaginations of many exterior the Britain, our majuscule metropolis is the place in which all British people reside – doubtless in residences with views of the Houses of Parliament or Buckingham Palace. At a push, not-Brits may have heard of other major cities such as Oxford or Edinburgh, and perchance Birmingham, simply that's often as far as non-Brit knowledge extends. This isn't helped by the fact that and then many major films are set in London: Notting Hill, Honey Actually, Bridget Jones, to name simply a few. And all these films present idealised versions of London that take those who've never been imagining that it's idyllically snowy in the winter and sunny in the summer, that transport is by the iconic blood-red double decker buses and blackness cabs (the latter at to the lowest degree is partly true), and that all London living is based in the very heart of the urban center, surrounded by its most famous landmarks. In movies, those who don't live in London live in motion-picture show-perfect villages surrounded by unspoilt countryside, in quaint picayune cottages with log burners, and roses growing effectually the door.
The reality, of course, sadly doesn't quite live up to this romantic platonic. Those who live in London alive mostly in its sprawling (and often depressing) suburbs, with astronomical house prices making living in cardinal London an impossible dream for everyone but the world'due south richest. More often than non, London is grayness, polluted and rainy, and getting from A to B is a gargantuan task that involves negotiating the grimy, crowded London Underground, known affectionately every bit "The Tube". Don't go united states incorrect – London is fantastic. But it's not how information technology's portrayed on the large screen.
What's more, most Brits don't alive in London. They alive in cities, towns and villages dotted effectually the country, just like people do in whatever other country. Though at that place is much to admire about the majority of British settlements, and many accept long and interesting histories that are nevertheless in evidence in their buildings and monuments, they're probably not how most non-Brits imagine them. These days our high streets look very similar from one town to the next, because they're all dominated by chains of the same shops and supermarkets, and modern housing estates all expect the aforementioned because they're more often than not built by the aforementioned property developers. Some people exercise relish the idealised, Hollywood version of U.k. – but it's generally the people who accept lots of money. That'due south not to say, notwithstanding, that Britain for everyday people lacks amuse; far from it.
iii. We all talk similar a Cockney or an blueblood
"Tally ho erstwhile sport! I say, isn't this some ghastly weather we're having, what?"
"Alright me old geyser?"
These are the two categories of British emphasis that plant most non-Brits' impressions of how we talk here in Britain. Hollywood has done little to dispel this thought of British speech, every bit this is how we're depicted in most movies as well.
In reality, numerous regional dialects add colour to the style in which English is spoken in Britain, from the thick Glaswegian accent to the gentle W Country lilt. With each of our many accents comes our own gear up of internal British stereotypes, merely we don't have time to wait at these now. Suffice it to say that if you come to U.k. expecting us to talk like the Queen or Dick Van Dyke, you're in for a thwarting!
4. All nosotros ever talk about is the weather
There'south certainly a big element of truth in this one, merely y'all simply have to expect at the boilerplate British weather condition forecast to sympathise why. If y'all lived in, say, California, you'd get bored of talking almost the weather later on a while, because the sun is e'er shining and you have a pretty good idea of what to expect, weather-wise, from ane calendar week to the side by side. Over here, on the other paw, our weather changes constantly. Expect at today for example. When I woke up this morning the sun was shining and it was the perfect crisp winter'southward solar day. Information technology's now 11.20am and it has overcast over and it's raining heavily. What's more than, January was so wet that much of the state is suffering from horrendous flooding. It'south only February and we've already experienced tape levels of rain, mini tornadoes, record-breaking wind speeds and the biggest, most destructive waves the coast has ever seen. At that place'southward never a dull moment when it comes to the British weather, and that's why we similar to talk about it so much.
But talking nigh the weather fulfils another purpose: it'south a guaranteed topic for pocket-sized talk, a safeguard we use to avoid those awkward silences that we self-conscious Brits hate. That self-consciousness and awkwardness is another stereotype, of class; even if there are enough of Brits like that, there are likewise plenty of gregarious types who defy that prototype. And all that said, we don't just talk about the weather. We talk about what nosotros're up to at the weekend, what happened on TV last night and what we think of the latest gossip. And enough more besides that, too.
5. We accept a strong upper lip
The idea of the "stiff upper lip" comes from the fact that a trembling upper lip betrays a lack of control over one'south emotions, and maintaining a stiff upper lip – non showing whatsoever emotion – is something that many people retrieve characterises the Brits. This misconception stems from the Victorian period, when showing your emotions was indeed considered a big no-no. This has left united states of america with a reputation for being reserved, and reluctant to show how nosotros feel, but this labelling of us as unemotional is a little unfair. These days it's considered healthy to evidence grief if you feel it; just wait at the public outpouring of emotion at the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. A number of newspaper articles in recent years have argued that the British stiff upper lip is no more, and you just have to observe the number of tears shed on reality Television shows like The X Factor to see why this outdated stereotype now fails to hold true.
6. Our food is awful and we tin't produce our own wine
Some countries – dare we say it, France, for example – look down their noses at British nutrient and deride us for our lack of gustatory modality. Admittedly, the proliferation in Uk of eating places of overseas origin – French, Italian, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Mexican, to proper name just a few – does rather suggest that nosotros feel our own nutrient is defective something; after all, in Italy, you only actually come across Italian restaurants.
We admit that fish and fries and "bangers and mash" aren't exactly the height of culinary sophistication, and the less said about Glasgow'south deep fried Mars Confined, the better. But what about our fabulous cakes and Afternoon Teas? Our hearty steamed puddings? Cornish pasties? And our huge variety of delicious sausages and cheeses? A good strong cheddar is every bit every bit expert as a French cheese; and the French may claim that they have a different cheese for every day of the year, but according to the English Cheese Lath, we have over 700 different varieties. And nosotros don't care what anyone says, we love our Sunday roasts and they're the feast of kings.
Our wine industry is a bit of a joke compared to that of many countries, and that's why we import so much. Later all, what grape would grow in our horrid rainy climate? Well, quite a few really. Information technology may surprise you lot to larn that we take a number of vineyards and nosotros even produce our ain sparkling wine – the British respond to Champagne. Non that anyone in the UK e'er actually drinks it, simply we feel that that's abreast the indicate.
seven. Nosotros're a nation of queuers
Now hither is a British stereotype that definitely is true, and we're very glad almost it. We Brits are renowned for forming an orderly queue whenever the need arises. We're non ones for pushing and shoving; we allow fairness rule the day and patiently wait our turn. Few things offend the states more than people who jump the queue, and we'll make certain that any violators of the queuing social club feel the full force of our disapproving glare.
eight. We complain a lot – but we also say distressing a lot
It's true: we practice complain a lot. We dear grumbling to each other nearly everything from our neighbours to politicians, from energy bills to noisy parties and from the atmospheric condition existence too cold to the conditions being likewise hot. Just we're normally as well polite actually to complain to the source of the grievance. In a restaurant, for case, we might privately complain to our dining companion about the standard of the food, but when the waiter comes round to ask us if everything is alright with our meals, most of united states will politely tell them how good information technology is.
It'southward also true that we say sorry a lot. In the restaurant scenario we've just outlined, if we did pluck up the backbone to say something near our substandard repast, we'd probably starting time and finish our complaint with the word "deplorable", as if it was somehow our mistake that the food wasn't up to scratch, and that we are the ones who must do the apologising. It makes no sense, but that'south just how we're wired.
If you lot'd like to see for yourself how we Brits measure up to our stereotypes, why not try signing yourself up to ane of our English as a Foreign Language (EFL) courses? During your studies, you'll stay in the classic English language academy urban center of Oxford, where your education extends beyond the classroom to learning most Britain's rich culture and history. What better way to get to know what the Brits are actually like than by travelling to the Great britain and agreement the background to what makes us tick? If you exercise decide to bring together usa, just remember one affair when you're at a autobus stop or buying something in a shop: never, ever, spring the queue.
Image credits: banner; William; London; cockneys; pelting; Diana; fish and chips; queue; waiter.
Source: https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/8-british-stereotypes-theyre-mostly-inaccurate/
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