SHOULD WE TRUST STEREOTYPES?

How do Spaniards and British view each other?

Everything is not what it seems, and stereotypes aren’t either.

Or is it true that everyone in Britain love tea and that all Spanish people know how to dance flamenco? I’m Spanish and I have never danced flamenco before. At least properly…

                       

Before starting with the article, I must already admit that the answer is yes, British people do really love tea and according to the “Daily Express” newspaper, on average each Briton drinks nothing more and nothing less that 3½ cups of tea a day.

Now, for Spanish readers, what is the first thing you think if someone asked you about British people? I recognize that one of the first things that came to mind was excessive alcohol drinking in Spanish coastlines, not respecting the surroundings and bringing a bad image of the British country. Some people say as an excuse that they are tourists and bring money into the country, but is that a good reason to justify their behaviour?

Maybe this type of British tourism thinks that this conduct is normal in Spain because they assume Spanish people spend their time partying and drinking sangria. And even though in Spain anything can be turned into a reason for partying, this statement is not fair for every Spanish citizen, who works on average 11 hours a day. This last fact about working hours, in turn, results in Spanish people being on a more delayed schedule than much of the rest of Europe. Therefore Britons are right on that we tend to be late. Now, you understand why we have dinner after 9 p.m.

Sun, bullfighting, paella and of course the “siesta” are the most famous topics about Spanish people. Meanwhile British “never relax” and say too much “please”, “sorry”, and “thank you”.

We cannot miss talking about the contrast of Spaniards: whose motto in life is “we have time, we can do it later”, who talk fast and loud, who are very affectionate with everyone, invented the appreciated by many “siesta” concept, and also cook very well and have really good food (jamón ibérico, the paella and olive oil); and Britons: who like to talk about the weather (most of the time rainy), who apologise a lot and are too polite, as well as too lazy to speak Spanish even when they live in Spain (it’s easier to relate with British communities than trying to integrate in Spanish society, isn’t it?). These, apart from being stereotypes, are all true statements too.

However, if we asked a Spanish person the difference between being British or English, practically anyone would answer correctly. And it is a big mistake to talk about both terms as if they meant the same. A British person is originally from Great Britain, an island containing three countries (England, Wales and Scotland), so an English person is also British, but a British person is not necessarily English.

On the other hand, it´s funny how both communities would classify the other one as a rude group of people. For example, in Spain people tend to give two kisses when they meet someone, even if it is the first time they see each other; it is a matter of education. But, for British people a handshake is the most common form of greeting, and giving one kiss just when you meet friends, whom you haven’t seen for a long time. Imagine that a Spaniard meets a Briton for the first time and gives him/her two kisses. The British would feel insulted and that the Spaniard has broken his personal space. Meanwhile, if the British greets just with a handshake the Spanish one would think that he is a rude and cold person. Nevertheless, both think they are behaving properly and don’t realise that the other one feels the same way. This happens because of a difference of politeness, education and traditions.

As a conclusion, I would like to reflect on the fact that stereotypes will remain in all societies, and is our individual decision whether to create a rivalry between communities because of these statements or simply clarify them. I personally think that the best option to leave stereotypes behind is to travel and check it yourself, choosing to learn from what we don´t know instead of criticizing it without knowing.

What is your opinion? Would you add any stereotype to discuss whether it is true or not? If any of you have a different conclusion about this issue I would be glad to read it!

Elena De León Fernández

EPD 11, Group 1

 Revised by Jose Mª Rosso Sánchez