ill-informed notions about regional people

[woodcutter]

In this article about the common mistakes that foreigners make in China

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/02/content_11474667.htm

there is reference to "ill-informed notions about people from certain regions".

In general I think you are more likely to be taught those by the Chinese in China themselves (people from Anhui are smelly peasants etc). Is this comment merely aimed at starry-eyed Tibet lovers do you think?

[chrix]

"Confucius assumes people are inherently good, therefore if you are doing business in China, trust is a key thing," says Xie Tian.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but AFAIK Confucius didn't take a stance in this issue, Mencius did and won against Xunzi, who was arguing the opposite

[dalaowai]

Thanks for the link woodcutter, I can't wait for Xinhua to publish an article stating that Chinese people have great understanding of foreigner-culture because of "Friends" and "Prison Break".

I think that the comment "ill-informed notions about people from certain regions"was directed at the term "getting shanghai'ed".

You are dead on about learning stereotypes from a local's perspective. What's amazing is how everyone in each region knows the stereotypes about each others place. I will always remember the first stereotype I learned, it was about dongbeiren and the excessive baijiu drinking. I was a few days in China and went out with some colleagues. One guy kept ganbei'ing me and when he went to the washroom, the other friends warned me, "Be careful, he is a dongbei boy, he is a heavy drunkard!"

[gougou]

What's amazing is how everyone in each region knows the stereotypes about each others place.

And about their own place, which often, as in the case of the Dongbei drunkards, can be a source of pride, too.

[muyongshi]

Trying not to get too much off topic but one of the stereotypes about foreigners (hey it's regional) is that we can't handle the Sichuan spice. So I go out to dinner with some friends and their is a person I haven't met and of course they are surprised by how much I can handle, and then of course I ask them do you like spice. About 60% of the time I get oh no I can't eat spicy food. I can eat more spice than 90% of the local population but hey that's not hard when only about 40% actually eat spice.

Anyway, what's interesting to me is how there are some typical associations like Chongqing and Chengdu women are good looking and vicious. They both accept the stereotype but if you ask a local of either place which one is more, they are not sure which way to lean on the stereotype.

Many stereotypes about regionals.... would be interested in hearing more about what other people say about Sichuan people.

[joshuawbb]

A Chinese friend of mine said a while ago that there was some big negative stereotype about people from Zhenghzou. She didn't tell me what is was, just saying that anyone may know it. I haven't found out to this day what it is, or why there would be a stereotype around Zhengzhou.

[imron]

It's more about people from all of Henan. People from Henan are unfortunately stereotyped as being theives and criminals.

[heifeng]

ahh yes joshy, that would be indeed be 传说中的河南骗子...

And about their own place, which often, as in the case of the Dongbei drunkards, can be a source of pride, too.

Well don't leave out dongbei's 'heishehui' then!

The programs, designed as two-day and seven-day schedules, hope to include case studies, interactive lectures, cultural performances, study tours to heritage sites, cultural experiences, lessons in calligraphy and tai chi, and even a briefing on KTV, if Prof Garst has his way.

I would think the proposed KTV briefing would at least need to go before the calligraphy class. As fresh meat...wait, I mean a potentially clueless expat, you would need to get briefed on what KTV can be synonymous with....uh oh, or is this just another ill-informed notion.....hmmm

I can't wait for Xinhua to publish an article stating that Chinese people have great understanding of foreigner-culture because of "Friends" and "Prison Break".

But why wait, we could just kick start such an article here on the forums! Or even an article on the 101 ill-informed notions on the laowai...that would be a fun thread.

Edited June 4, 2009 at 03:11 AM by heifeng

[querido]

I've long noticed this issue, that some groups may be slurred even in polite (mixed) company, as humor, while others may not. I've wondered how this could reasonably be interpreted societally/politically. It would seem that those who may not be slurred hold some initiative, and while initiative is not necessarily control, it is a lever in that direction.

I wonder if there is a corresponding hierarchy of stereotypes in China. I know there must be, and I wonder what it might reveal about Chinese society. I suspect that it would *reveal* nothing to a well informed observer, because what-may-not-be-said is always very well known, somehow.

[woodcutter]

It's fun to discuss the stereotypes (please add more!) but don't you agree that they are probably talking only about Tibet in the article?

Actually the only three kinds of stereotypes I have frequently heard in China are north-east are honest drunks, Henan folk are criminals and people from big city X are flash or arrogant while people from poor province X are dirty, devious peasants. Are there any other famous ones?

People say a lot about the Cantonese but I can't really put my finger on the common stereotype. There is a lot said about eating habits there and elsewhere, but those are based on reality.

[gougou]

but those are based on reality.

Aren't most stereotypes based on reality?