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365 Adventures in 2011: Day 28 – Stereotypes exist because they’re true
Tonight I visited a local Italian restaurant to pick up some food. While waiting, I noticed a perfectly stereotypical Italian family eating there. The family was huge, with multiple generations sitting together. There was a large pile of garlic rolls on the table. Two guys were loudly conversing, throwing a few swear words in here and there, not minding that there were kids at the table. And they all had thick New York accents.
I’m Italian, but I don’t “act” Italian. This group did. But we were in an Italian restaurant, so it all made sense.
I hope they don’t mind me posting a picture of them here.
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Hi- Clearly you have raised the issue of ethnic and cultural identity, We identify with those who are most like ourselves and disaffiliate from those we feel do not represent us or our identified identities. Are these folks stereotypical because the resemble a “media” defined profile? Just curious.
They’re stereotypical because they exhibited a number of behaviors defined as “typical” for an Italian family. I’m Italian, so I can make any sweeping generalizations I want. ;)
Ricky, not sure that’s necessarily Italian. But it’s definitely New York behavior (or NJ or Long Island). And unfortunately, that behavior is common among all ethnicities of that region. And I’m born and raised in Jersey, so I can make any sweeping generalization I want.