British Stereotypes - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages There goes the old ethnic joke which clearly depicts stereotyping among different cultures. Stereotype denotes simplified and fixed image of all members of a culture or group. Stereotypes are often based on race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender, and national origins (Stereotypes 2006). It is irrefutable that the world is filled with stereotypes as each one of us often tries to associate a certain trait or characteristics in an individual based on the common stereotype placed on the culture and race a person belongs to. For example, people always tend to characterize Americans as people who are superficial and with no fashion sense.
This paper will look at the common stereotypes linked with British and how these stereotypes are justified. The next section of the paper will show the negative and the positive stereotypes given by foreigners. The report will conclude with its findings.

Negative Stereotypes
One of the most common stereotypes about British is their having bad teeth. The concept of “bad British teeth” can be traced as American’s perception on Britons. This concept is even worsened when Lisa Simpson was shown by her orthodontist as “The Big Book of British Teeth (Guardian Unlimited 2006).”
British recognize that their teeth are relatively worse than their counterparts for a lot of reasons. Firstly, the structure of American teeth is really whiter and straighter than Britons. Aside from that, it was also recognized that Americans invests money on their dental health while British think that cosmetic surgery and self manipulation is vanity. It should also be noted that only a few number of British over the age of 35, regardless of income and social status have had orthodontia. In America, there is an overwhelming social pressure to have aligned and white teeth. Orthodontia has been a social necessity in the United States since 1970 (Why do Americans 2005).
British are also regarded as unemotional. This is supported by the idiom "British stiff upper lip" which means displaying courage in times of difficulties. In British stereotype however, the stiff upper lip connotes their exercise of self-restraint in expressing their emotion. By some means, the formal demeanor of the ruling class of Britain gives rise to this stereotype. Another significant connotation of the stiff upper lip is feeling of superiority and proud. One of the reasons why people see this is the fact that British have never been colonized by any other nation. Other British stereotypes branded them as snob and reserved (Stiff Upper Lip 2006).
British are also classified as shy individuals especially when it comes to financial aspects. British are not likely to divulge how much money they have and find it socially offensive to chat about how much they got according to the recruitment organization Jonathan Wren. It was also found out that eight out of ten feel embarrassed when discussing the size of their "pay pocket (Dunn 2005)."
British art is very reserved and grey, avant-garde, eccentric and mad. Saudi Arabians also commented on the lack of British artist (How the World Sees 1999). British media is seen to be unreliable (How the World Sees 1999).
Positive Stereotypes
In a survey was conducted by MORI, the most prominent British public opinion research agencies to determine how the world sees Britain, the following positive stereotypes are derived. The survey was answered by 200 successor generation in thirteen countries which include Brazil, China, Egypt, France, ...Download file to see next pagesRead More