How do you deal with stereotypes from foreigners? Can positive stereotypes offend?

[shaasavera]

Re: How do you deal with stereotypes from foreigners? Can positive stereotypes offend

@Mezhgan

I think even positive stereotypes can offend. The problem with stereotypes, positive or otherwise, is that they are rather limiting and assume that everyone of a certain ethnic background/nationality is the same, and that can be offensive to people who do not fall within the stereotype.

Take, for instance, the stereotype that all Asians are extremely intelligent and medical professionals. I have a couple of Indian friends who do not work in anything remotely related to the medical field (one in fashion photography and the other in journalism) and they’ve commented that, while at uni, they found it irritating that everyone assumed they were going into the medical field and felt that this implied that Asians are not capable of doing anything else. They also stated that people assumed that they were not smart because they did not go into medicine “as expected,” an assumption and expectation that people would not have if they were not Asian.

Thanks for the insight. I didn’t think of it that way but you definitely are right. I appreciated your comments in the other thread. As someone of afghani background do you ever come across any stereotypes ? Afghanistan has some absolutely amazing shrines and monuments. Not to mention the mountainous landscape and the famous rugs.
I think stereotypes are often used as shortcuts and can be limiting. There are lot of things outsiders don’t know about.