Challenge your stereotypes!

[bestcreation]

firstly, i apologize for the exclamation point in the title. (at least I didn't capitalized it)
Now that the exclamation mark has worked its magic, I challenge the users of the forum that proudly displays the logo "regardless of the difference of race, ethinicity, and religion" to challenge their stereotypes.

According to dictionary.com, stereotypes are
1. A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.
2. One that is regarded as embodying or conforming to a set image or type.

I might add that stereotypes are not all negative in nature. Positive stereotypes are possible though those stereotypes may actually be more harmful to the people being stereotyped.

This post will focus on racial stereotypes as these stereotypes are the most ingrained in malaysian society and are causing the most harm to the creation of a truly harmonious malaysian society. It is through disposing of these stereotypes that we, as a society, can look past skin color and realize what makes us different is the lives we choose to live and the beliefs we choose to accept.
I will write down some stereotypes that I have personally heard of and welcome other people to add to this list.

malay - lazy in everything, polygamous, always take care of 'own kind'.

chinese - good in math, not united politically, only interested in money.

indian - alcoholics, engages in courtship by singing in public parks, great dancers.

others - who cares?

maybe by thinking of these stereotypes, people will start to realized that stereotypes, like race, are social constructs. Nothing is intrinsic or inherited. Only when we think of

malaysians (as) alcoholics, good in math, engages in courtship by singing in public parks, polygamous, not united politically, only interested in money, lazy in everything, always take care of 'own kind', great dancers.

then can we consider ourselves as a truly mature society.

err...maybe not. but I think you see my point.
By the way, negative brownies points for people who can (or try to) guess my ethicity.

Let the challenge begin.
For example, all Malays are muslim.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_...om_in_Malaysia
In April 2001, a High Court judge rejected the application of a Malay woman who argued that she had converted to Christianity, and requested that the term "Islam" be removed from her identity card. The judge ruled that an ethnic Malay is defined by the federal Constitution as "a person who professes the religion of Islam." The judge also reaffirmed the 1999 High Court ruling and stated that only an Islamic court has jurisdiction to rule on the woman?s supposed renunciation of Islam and conversion to Christianity.


Think or Die!

[oneforthelord]

*dies*

hmm here are some I remember from my mom:


chinese: Selfish, look out for themselves before other things, hardworking

indians: always willing to back up their own race even if one of them did wrong, always smelly, like to fight all the time, no brains, criminals

[breakout7]

Association of a Malay being a Muslim is not stereotyping, no matter what dictionary.com says.

lemme try...

xtians : (-) wanna convert the whole humanity into themselves, recruiting new members, feeling superior over others, fanatic and bugging, indulge in hypnotic activities, stay in cliques, banana chineses (+) active, good at singing, good at English

muslims : (-) can be narrow minded, violent, think they are the best umat, pray too loud (+) quite united, clean religion, being urged to persue knowledge

Malay :
Kelantanese : (-) Fanatic muslims (+) friendly
Utara : padi planters

Chinese :
Hakka : (-) rough, cheating, poor (+) a lot of them in malaysia
Hokkien : merchants, rich, influencial
Hainan : (+) good food, dominate coffee business, intelects (-) lazy
Cantonese : (-) rough , complex (+) good food
Non Chinese speaking Chinese : being anti-chinese themselves, always want SRJK to be closed down, can unite with other Chinese

Indians :
good at English (+) Proud (-)

just some examples...

[Maxforce]

Er.. are we against stereotype or spreading more stereotype thinking?

[Salvation]

Association of a Malay being a Muslim is not stereotyping, no matter what dictionary.com says.

This is a sensitive topic but imo, religion is for one to choose.

[bestcreation]

Originally Posted by Maxforce

Er.. are we against stereotype or spreading more stereotype thinking?

good point. I am interested to see how stereotypes are not based on some innate genetic differences. All stereotypes, and I would even go as far as to say that race, is a social construct.

being together for a long time and sharing the same culture is what defines a race. having the same skin color helps, but not neccessary crucial.

for example, being a hispanic has nothing to do with your skin color. there are black and white hispanics but they all share the same latin american culture ( i think)

more related to malaysia is this example from previous posters.
Hainan : lazy
Malay : lazy

is hainanese malay? and malays hainanese?
i think it's by examining our stereotypes that we are able to reduce the negative effects of these stereotypes.

case in point.
I think the idea that all malays are muslim is a stereotype.
not all malays in indonesia are muslims. there are alot of non-muslim indonesians. unless you tell me those indonesians are not ethically malay.

[Maxforce]

Well it sure reminds me of a sitcom I watched previously.
There were two candidates vying for a political position
Candidate 1 was in a middle of a scandal crises
Candidate 2 came with reporters and explained to the press.
Well, when you think of corruption, greed and money politics, dont think Candidate 1. I ll say again, Corruption, Greed, Money Politics, not Candidate 1.
Hahah

[ck]

"We should not stereotype others base on it ethnics". Easier said then done. Talk to HR people and trust me... they sure have a lot to say about what they think.

The problem lies not with the ethnics but the majority of the people behaving in such negative manners that gives other leads to bad impression of the ethnics race.

Just as we would always says, women are lousy drivers. Why stereotype?It's because we all been feed with negative comments of others ethnics. We cannot prevent what other people thinks about your ethnics (or religion), but we can show to them the otherwise.

[Maxforce]

haha ck, I can definitely relate to what you said. Previously my boss asked me what kind of staff should he hire.. So I just basically tell him on the attributes part. Race did not come out. So after all the finalist went through, again we were on the table discussing who should we hire... Based on the qualifications, attributes, etc (except the race factor), I suggested that we should hire this one particular fellow. Oh my, what a surprise... ethic group stereotype thinking!!! Well anyway, in the end we could not reach an agreement because the particular candidate from the ethnic group he wanted to hire is one lousy candidate (to which I objected to hiring!) (I said, dun give shit to me ar, boss. - or i implied something like tat!)