Cultural stereotypes in intercultural communication

ANALYSIS

When we first meet someone and want to know their cultural background, we usually ask questions like "Where are you from?" It's a simple question, but it also involves social and cultural elements, and can lead to discomfort. In this short video titled Cultural Stereotypes by Ken Tanaka, we are shown how this question can open up the fact that cultural stereotypes are still prevalent around us. Especially in interactions between individuals in multicultural societies such as America. 

Below is the description of the video that we analyze:

A man was jogging when he greeted a woman of Asian descent in a friendly manner. The woman just smiled and replied. The man then asked her where she was from, which turned out to be San Diego. The man felt that the answer had not answered his question and asked again, "Before that?" The woman replied that her grandmother was from Seoul. With confidence, the man guessed right away. In addition, the man added general comments about teriyaki, kimchi, and barbeque places near his apartment. When it was the woman's turn to ask where the man was from San Francisco. As the man did, the woman was also not satisfied with the answer given and asked for more details, the man replied that he was American. After that the woman asked further and the man finally explained that he was of English descent. Then the woman immediately showed a caricatural English accent, such as Ello Gov'ner, Top o' the morning to you, Mind the gap, as well as mentioning fish & chips (an icon of national English culture). And exaggerated expressions to reflect how even Western cultural stereotypes can be made funny. The man, confused and uncomfortable. Then the woman leaves the man with "Really? I'm weird? Must be a Korean thing." Which shows offense.

1. Cultural Symbol

Based on the conversations in the video, there are several cultural symbols that emerge and are interesting to criticize, such as the way they greet each other. Gestures such as bowing and waving. For example, in the video, the man bends his body to greet the woman. This is done because the man assumes that the woman is from Asia (Japan or Korea) just because she has an oriental face. In Japanese and Korean culture when greeting they usually do a bowing gesture. However, in the video, the man's action becomes a form of racism due to cultural stereotyping. We should not label someone as belonging to a certain culture based on stereotypes that we believe in without knowing their real background.

2. Language Use

An American man used informal language when inviting to talk so that the conversation is not awkward with a Korean who is a person who has not been known before. In addition, it can be seen that an American man says introductory greetings by bowing his body while cupping hands while introducing himself to a Korean woman. The accent used is slightly overused such as using a loud accent as a form of assertion about other cultures that show stereotypes. It can be seen when a woman tries to use facial expressions and accents typical of speaking from England, but it turns out to make the man he talks to become uncomfortable and consider it weird and makes the conversation awkward.

3. Behaviors & Values

The interaction style used by both looks different. Man speaks with enthusiastic and cheerful facial expressions so that they looks very interested in talking to his interlocutor. While the woman looks calm in responding to the man. 

When talking about origin, asking "Where are you from" and "Where are you really from" shows that the man who asked positioned an Asian woman as other people or minority groups, even though they were born and lived in America. When a woman turns the question back to a man "Where are you really from?" shows the injustice felt by an Asian woman as a minority group. 

When an Asian woman knows that the man is of England descent and tries to imitate the English speaking style, the man is confused and thinks the woman is weird. So the woman makes the man aware by saying "Must be a Korean thing" as evidence that stereotypical behavior if used in the majority culture becomes inappropriate.

4. Identity Performance

From the interaction we can see that the guy has been influenced by cultural stereotypes where he thought that by seeing a woman with slanted eyes is from Asia. This shows that the man is profoundly influenced by cultural stereotypes where he thinks that all women with slanted eyes are from Asia and from the video he thinks that either the woman is Japanese or Korean.

CONCLUSION

In this era of globalization where society has become more multicultural, it is important that we do not judge other individuals or groups based on stereotypes and outward appearances. People tend to get influenced by cultural stereotypes through media and social interaction that shapes them into thinking that people have expectations on what they perceive from other people's culture. Ken Tanaka's Cultural Stereotype video aims to convey social criticism and remind us that intercultural communication is not only about language, but also empathy, respect, and self-awareness of boundaries that may lead to sensitive issues. We need to learn to think and listen with a more open heart and go beyond stereotypes so that we can co-exist equally with the global community.