British Stereotypes in America

British Stereotypes in America

Let’s face it, in The United States, we do not understand cricket, we do not understand tea, and we certainly do not understand hidden emotions. Of course there is more to Britain than these cultural icons, just like America is not just made of cowboys from “Dallas” and loud egotistic tourists. However in the year 2000, there are still several myths surrounding the British culture that are very much alive today. Many people in the U.S. and I am sure many other countries tend to think of Britain as a land full of rose gardens, cricket, Oxford, and people drinking tea with their little pinky in the air with the Queen. Myths and legends stem from reality distorted, this in turn continues to affect the real image portrayed by a country.

One famous characteristic that the British I am sure would like to rid themselves of is horrible bland food. It is a common misconception in American that everything that moves or doesn’t is boiled, and stuffed into some sort of animal organ. I believe this originates from the fact that these people have experienced so much grief in the forms of World Wars, which they learned to swallow it and not complain. There could be another explanation though; they might actually like it. Americans definitely have different tastes and this creates one of our cultural differences that we like to torment the British for. Serves them right for trying to not give us our independence, how dare them “let’s make fun of their food”. With the addition of “Two Fat Ladies” and the “Ainsley Harriott Show” (British cooking shows) in America, hopefully some of these misconceptions will change.

The British are also perceived as being a docile, non-violent country. This comes from years of conditioning of learned techniques that have developed this casual attitude.

“…historically the English have in fact been a fairly violent lot. However, for at least two centuries, the ability to control aggressions has been a source of pride to the British”(p.90, Snowden). Americans would say, “no dogs allowed” whereas the British would say, “we regret that in the interests of hygiene dogs are not allowed on the premises”. For years it has been the parents’ job to punish children into submission to rid them of their “badness”.