Monologue: Stereotypes

I've been asked to talk about stereotypes.

Before starting the monologue, I think that it is important to define what we understand for stereotypes. Stereotypes are generalizations or assumptions that people make about the characteristics of a group, based on an image about what people in that group are like. They are often wrong. 

Next I am going to examine different stereotypes assigned to different nationalities:

- Spaniards always take a nap in the afternoon, they wear bullfighter outfit and they are lazy people. As Spaniard who has lived in different cities of Spain, I can assure you that these stereotypes are wrong. 

I've never taken a nap, and neither my family nor friends. Moreover I've seen people dressing bullfighter outfit only on tv and in carnival. And eventually Spanish people can't be considered lazy, in fact Spain is one of the western countries where it is worked more hours annually. In that area it is likely that Spaniards need to be more efficient.

On the other hand Spanish people are accused of speaking loud and being impolite. That is probably true.  

- English people are hooligans and they drink a lot. In my opinion we have this image of english people due to english football fans and english tourists. 

When football fans come to Spain, they are always in the news, because they are used to making vandalism when the football game is over. On the other hand, when english young tourists visit Spain, they drink a lot. In Spain we are used to seeing on tv drunken english tourists.

In both cases, I think english people come to Spain and they do things they wouldn't do in UK. They are aware they are in a foreign country out of sight of their parents, neighbors and so on.  For this reason, they take advantage.   

- French people are said to be arrogant and chauvinist. I don't know many french people, but they aren't arrogant nor chauvinist, on the contrary, they are very friendly and gentle people. 

However, like a country is likely they are arrogant and chauvinist. For instance I can remember when they celebrated their national holiday last year, an important French actress was dressed with French flag and she was singing the marseillaise in champs elysses in Paris.    

Another example, when their politicians make a speech, they are always remembering they are the best country in the world, they have contributed to the social and moral progress of humanity, and so on.

I could continue with other european countries, but it would be very boring.

To conclude with the monologue, stereotypes can be true or false, but they are important because they help define your group identity against other groups.