Black people eat fried chicken and japanese people eat sushi?

Question

Please explain to me the difference between "stereotyping" and "celebrating cultural differences".

If I say "Italian people eat pizza", is this a generalization? Does this offend some people?

Black people like basketball, Asian people eat rice, White people like NASCAR. Am I racist and ignorant, or "celebrating diversity"?

Answer 1

Anytime that you make an assumption about a group as a whole by the choices of a select few, you are generalizing. I am black and I hate basketball, Nascar aand especially Sushi. Celebration of diversity comes when you realize that people are different because of thier culture and not the same because of it. Good question. Not offended at all

Answer 2

I don't think you are a racist but just stereotyping, I am pretty sure that the other races play basketball and eat rice, and eat chicken etc...
What you are doing is stereotyping (which to me is not racist) you just need to get understanding that all races like pretty much all types of things, Now some cultural may focus more on a subject than others, but its not all of them. For example; i have a friend who is Asian and him and his family hate rice. I am black and I hate fried chicken. So people are people with there own ideas.

Answer 3

Stereotypes and generalizations cause people to be narrow-minded. insensitive to differences within a group, and uses them to put others down and to keep others down.

I know you have see people make rude comments about something that is true like blacks would show up at the poll if they gave out fried chicken. I'm black, I think fried chicken is good, but I'd rather have Italian food. Generalizations make people say stupid things and assume something that may not be true for whom they are referring. Generalizations do not allow for personal differences and preferences. Generalizations leaves you stuck with a label that may not apply to you.

Celebrating culture is something done within the culture and is positive. Stereotypes are made outside of the culture and are usually done in an offensive manner. For instance, the stereotype that blacks are good athletes or that Asians are smart can make the black that stinks at sports and the Asian that is not a genius feel crappy about themselves because of the expectations that others have forced upon them and the pressure they get from others.

Answer 4

Great questions! You get to the heart of a lot of what's troubling the world these days. These are deeper issues than they seem on the surface.

I suppose it depends on context, and on the intent of one's words. If you say, "Pizza originated in Naples in the 19th century," you're just stating a [non-values-laden] fact. If you say, "(ethnic epithet)s from Naples eat pizza," you've made a racist slur. Your intent is clearly different in each case.

Perhaps a way to steer clear of racial slander and yet accurately portray trends is to say, for example, "x percent of the US population is African-American, while y percent of the live NBA basketball audience is African-American," or "Z percentage of the NASCAR audience is white." Be dispassionate; stick to measurable facts, and you'll stay away from stereotyping.

To celebrate diversity, you probably need to focus on the positive aspects of multicultural societies. Where do the overlaps of cultures benefit us? A small example: while this issue is a little more complex than food and art, imagine yourself enjoying some delicious dim sum during Chinese New Year and then viewing a Verdi opera. In the great (and multicultural) cities of the world, you could do so...but that's just a microcosm of the attitude it takes to celebrate diversity.

Answer 5

It depends on how, where and when you are saying those things. Most of the time they are generalizations, but depending on the manner of speach, they may be just as derogatory as a racial joke. Its a sad comparison I apologize, but look at Carlos Mencia's comedy. He is talking about some of the stereotypes that happen to be true. In GENERAL I would agree with you, especially if you do know a lot of blacks that eat fried chicken, or mexicans that eat rice and beans, or asians who eat rice. Its a cultural thing.

Answer 6

I think it is strange that the Slovakians are better at hockey than the Canadians, a Greek salad is made from American raised crops, I am white and I got rhythm, and a Chinese Person was the first in the NBA draft a few years ago in yao Ming.
Seems strange one of the greatest heavy metal guitarist was Jimi Hendrix.
one of the greatest golfers ever is of AfricanAsian mix.And a blind man has climbed Mt. Everest the most times.
Adeaf man composed some of the greatest symphonies.
That that pencil pocket geeky dude led the way for all geks like himself to be some of the richest and most respected in the world(bill Gates)
Americans love baseball ,hotdogs,apple pie. and chevrolet. i like football, prime rib, peanut butter ice cream ,and Ford.I buy the hot dogs as a treat for my Mongolian dog.
I am mainly of German descent but can't stand warm beer
I am also Irish and Scotch but can't drink whiskey
Speaking of my dog he can't stand other dogs but always wants to play with the kitty cats in the neighborhood.
And please if you invite me for Thanksgiving dinner dont ask me which green bean caserole is better . I can't stand the stuff.

i am one who definitely cannot be sterotyped. I hate to sit down and read abook but am working on a novel. I don't read poetry read am going to be published in a coffee table book and have a song that i sold to a band. Diversity is what you make it. I am not better than anybody except in where I want to be and the same goes for that person. He could be ashort 5 foot famous author and he would probably kick my butt in basketball despite my 6 foot one stature but because he can tell a story doesn't mean he wrote a song.

Answer 7

Stereotyping is claiming an entire group of people to be something that they may not.

Celebrating cultural differences is showing the difference in cultures and being aware that we are all different and unique, in a positive way.

i am black and i dont like basketball. i do like chicken, but i eat rice and sushi as well. it's just a matter of allowing yourself to stay ignorant to the world around you. if you choose to do so, you are closing your mind to the differences and choosing to not educate yourself, thus being a racist, bigot or stereotyper.

Answer 8

Stereotyping result in simplification or reducing diversity.

So i don't see how stereotyping can be taken as celebrating diversity. To me celebrating diversity would involve breaking away from stereotyping or generalisation.

As to whether it is offensive or not, it really depends on the individual.

I can't stand hot/spicy food, but people assume i love it just because i'm of a certain race.

Most of the time i brush it off as a funny and innocent assumption. Other times i feel irritated at people's tendency to judge by your colour/race. Because normally, that habit of stereotyping extends beyond stereotyping on food preference, but also to your lifestyle, ideology, sense of style, hobby, etc.

But then again, stereotyping is just how our human brain works. Just like the many rules of thumb, we employ in investment, recipe estimation, and other aspects of life.

Answer 9

Like all of us, you're just habbin' a bitta Fun!!

Personally, i always call Italians 'Spaghetti Munchers'
They are my best friends!

I call Samoans and Tongans "Chocolates" and myself I call, "A Milky bar";
But I married a Tongan, and they are my best friends!!!

I think all this drivel over being touchy about race or nation is a whole lot of Hogwash!!

By the way, did you hear about the guy who was went into a 'second brain' shop??

The salesman put 3 brains out onto the table, and told him that the first Brain was worth $200.

'WHY??' said the man.

'It belongs to an American', said the sales...
Then he put another out and said "This one is $500; it belongs to an Australian.
He put the 3rd Brain out, and Said, "This brain is $1000"

'Why?' asked the man.

"Well, it belongs to a Frenchman! It has never been used!!"

Enjoy your life anfd stop quibblin' over menials!!

Answer 10

Those statements are generalizations and implying that people act in a way due to their ethnic background, is racist.

I agree that there might be similar choices in a group of people but overgeneralizing is stereotypical and prejudice.