Quote from: JulieC. on April 20, 2013, 05:48:05 PM
Really Lesley? Asians compromise a huge number of people from a equally large continent. I really don't think you can just lump them all together like that (even if that stereotype is true which I'm not sure it is). Even in your own country, are people from Quebec the same as people from Vancouver?
That's a very good point but one which needs to be applied in context.
As individuals, we represent ourselves according to our personal attitudes and beliefs. I am potato, you are patato. That much is the individual. (Notice I'm the potato
)
As a group, we are represented by the consensus. The consensus here, for example, is transgender as a continuum. Some individuals may not personally agree. Some may strongly disagree, but we all agree to represent that point as an alternative to being ostracised.
I can say for example, with some level of certainty, that in Scotland, using alcohol is a norm. There are many Scots who don't use it, but the norm is represented by those that do. That isn't a negative stereotype, it's an observation of a social trend.
We can say with some level of certainty, that the norm among those of Sino-Asia culture, tend to place great emphasis upon education, especially for some, upon family and so on. There have to be exceptions. These are people. But these are social norms imposed by the culture. The culture exists as a unity because its members tend to conform rather than the alternative of being ostracised.
In all human societies the norm is heterosexual relationships and conventional gender expression. Some societies practice a tolerance as a trend. Though it is interesting that, in any crisis the society tend s to revert or seek to reestablish stability by reverting to an earlier point. 'Everything was fine before....' or 'This will lead to/result in/indicates ....'. These are the naysayer responses and all societies feature these. (They are actually two and only two, very different naysayer responses represented by much greater trends elsewhere, but I digress!)
Where change is part of natural process, such as children growing up and becoming individuals, not necessarily like their parents, or people dying, then the society responds according to its ability to adapt. If the society is based upon strong structures, designed for stability, necessary adaptation is invariably accompanied by a period of revision where naysayers predominate.
While it is to be appreciated that, as a group which seeks to further social tolerance, we avoid any indications of revisionist stereotyping, there is a fine line between social appreciation and negative stereotyping.
