What’s a Stereotype?

Stereotypes: are ideas held about members of particular groups, based solely on membership in that group. They are often considered to be negative or prejudicial and may be used to justify certain discriminatory behaviour.

Spain

People from other countries say that Spanish people only think about paella, siesta, and parties. The typical Spaniard is a not very hard working, wine drinking and ham eating people.

<!–[if !vml]–><!–[endif]–>Also, men are very good looking. All the Spaniards look like Antonio Banderas, many people have tanned skin and deep black eyes, and all Spanish men wear sombreros, for example Catalonia has the barretina, a typical hat

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On the other hand, people think that Spanish people are lazy, no punctual, untidy and aggressive people, and they all shout at each other and argue instead of talking. Although in same cases this is true, in general Spanish people are very hard working and efficient in their jobs.

France

<!–[if !vml]–><!–[endif]–><!–[if !vml]–><!–[endif]–>People say that French people are organised, very polite and kind, although a bit proud. They think that French people are all romantic and that everyone loves art. Many people think that they love riding bikes and that everyone owns one, that would be because of the “Tour de France”.

<!–[if !vml]–><!–[endif]–>It is also said that French people are very hypochondriac, they worry a lot about their health, they ask for a lot of treatments or opinions and also they visit very often the doctor’s.
If we talk about women, people said that All French women own poodles, because Poodles are France’s favourite dog, and they believe that women are fashionable, slim and that they don’t shave their armpits, legs and they smell very well.

Germany

<!–[if !vml]–><!–[endif]–>The typical German is the one with fair hair and blue eyes. We’ll find more blondes in Germany than you would in say, China, but no more than in many Northern European countries. Specially women, who are icy Teutonic beauties with blonde hair and blue eyes. They also have a deep beard.

Some, not all, but some German men are very proud of their luxurious facial hair. The World Beard and Moustache Championships took place in Berlin. German adult drank 120 litres of beer per year, 16 litres more than the average British adult
Germans are rude; a German will almost always let you know what he really thinks.
Germans are considered arrogant, because their language apparently sounds arrogant.

Public Transport is almost always on time in Germany, and if you agree to meet some friends at eight o’clock, they will be annoyed if you arrived at nine 0’clock.