The Bellarmine Convert: Different national stereotypes

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Posted: 10/28/09

By Sarah Botha

A few days a go an freshman asked me, "So where's your country exactly?" I replied slightly astounded, "What do you mean?" He continued, "Like where exactly?" Suddenly I understood what he meant and I replied, "Africa's not a country, its a continent..." "Oh, I thought it was like how we say Northern Kentucky..."

In almost three months this was the first time I met someone who genuinely didn't know who Nelson Mandela was or where South Africa was. One would think its pretty self explanatory. This column has so far looked at the stereotypes at Bellarmine and the benefits of study abroad; so why not combine the two to unravel the idea of country stereotypes and that often enough these stereotypes hide a deeper reality and understanding of people and culture.

As a person from Africa, South Africa to be more specific, I'm sure some people had the idea that I live in a hut and travel to school on an elephant. Not true...coming from 'Africa', I knew that not only would I be facing the typical assumptions based of films like the Lion King or even District 9, but I also knew that I would have challenge the very Western attitude towards Africa.

Some of you may not know what I'm talking but this attitude is what feeds the Africa stereotype making people ask, 'Do you have internet? What about water and electricity?' In many ways it makes South Africa and other African countries look primitive in the world. I'd like to make the distinction that though I have all of those things and more - not everyone does. And that's what makes Africa so challenging and hard to define; both the rich world and poor world exist right next door to one another.

When you look at the island of Ireland, one thing is noticeable - that there is a border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In other words, they are two different countries. A good friend of mine is from Northern Ireland and this has been one of her greatest frustrations; trying to make people understand that Ireland is not one country.

Being Irish carries with it just as many stereotypes as being South African does. Many of them include being able to out drink anyone, that everyone eats potatoes or 'spuds' as she calls them and that she knows where your Lucky Charms are. But what many people don't know is that Northern Ireland has long been a site of a violent and bitter ethno-political conflicts between nationalists and unionists fighting to determine whether Northern Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom or be united with the rest of Ireland.

In understanding this, perhaps then her frustration with people's claims that it is all one country are warranted. Imagine if someone said Canada and the United States of America are all one country.

Now, I feel that it's crucial to look at one more stereotype- the American one. Throughout my time here I've been asked what people think of American overseas and whether it's true. A few of these characteristics include: Americans are stupid, that you all enjoy fast food more than you should and that you all have Republican political viewpoints.

Now before you crucify me, this stereotype isn't the case at all. More than any other cultural and national stereotype, the American one is one that has been blown away through the time of I've been here. And yes, I still stand behind this even though some one didn't know who Nelson Mandela was. America is so diverse that its hard to have one universal opinion on the people here.

I've traveled both in urban and rural areas and granted, rural areas don't always have the most educated knowledge on other people and places, yet I've been overwhelmed at the desire to know more about my country and other places in the world. I've been frustrated at the lack of access to fresh fruit and healthy food which makes me understand the fast food obsession here. I've been interested to understand the debate between supporting the troops but not the war. That when it's your boyfriend, son or friend that's fighting, you have no choice but to support them and not Bush's republican policies in Iraq. And I've interacted with you all on a daily basis to understand that you're not stupid at all.