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We Filipinos eat with our hands, drive crazy on the road, point with our lips
Mindy4dogs, I don’t know if your post was a response to mine, but let me explain what I said if it wasn’t clear. First of all, I have to admit that forming stereotypes is something everyone does and is part of learning about your environment. For example, dog A bit me. Therefore, I should probably stay away from dog B because it might bite as well. For human classifications, such as ethnicity, forming generalizations are more complex. White people usually have more media exposure compared to other ethnic groups, so the public can see both their achievements and their flaws. Therefore, if the news reported a white person stealing a car, no one will usually associate white people with stealing. However, for ethnic groups with minimal exposure, most people will associate the particular act (usually the negative ones) with that ethnicity and your car-stealing story was an example. Getting back to the article, as I said earlier, I don’t mind if a person’s ethnicity is called to attention if it would be a benefit. If we were looking for a criminal, then ethnicity would be important to mention for identification. Or if we tried to correct a problem, such as gang affiliation amongst Filipinos and other groups, then bringing up ethnicities would be appropriate. However, I don’t feel that this article was meant to help anyone out. Seriously, are the “flaws” in strict Filipino parenting (which has actually benefited a lot of second generation Filipinos) really a big enough issue to publish in the Reader? Considering how influential stereotypes are for people of color, why bring up these harmful stereotypes? Is it too much to ask to minimize the amount of negative exposure until the media is ready to show our positive qualities at the same time? This is why I’m offended. This article just makes Filipinos look bad and in the end, no one was able to benefit from it. What a complete waste at the expense of my people. By the way, I don’t think anyone was pointing fingers only at non-Filipinos. I’m the most angered by the Filipino author and then the editors, whether they are Filipinos or not.— March 18, 2010 6:23 p.m.
We Filipinos eat with our hands, drive crazy on the road, point with our lips
Wow, where do I start?! First of all, I would like to address all the people who think that Filipinos are being too sensitive or that this article isn’t offensive. I understand that the author is writing about her experiences with her strict Filipino parents. If she feels the need to try to change the way MANY, BUT NOT ALL, Filipinos raise their children by writing this article, then so be it. However, I don’t think it’s necessary to include certain stereotypes (wannabe gangster boyfriend, driving crazy) in the article. Sure, they make the article more interesting, but are they really necessary to get her point across? Plus, I don’t think Filipinos have gotten enough media exposure, compared to other ethnic groups, to allow the general public to see the bad and the good in Filipino culture. Therefore, including these negative stereotypes, without positive ones, is harmful to the Filipino image. As a second generation Filipino, growing up in San Diego with conservative Filipino parents, I can understand where the author is coming from. However, I have used my parents’ teachings, along with my hard work and sacrifice, to allow myself to graduate from UCSD and to obtain a professional degree in health care. I have made MANY sacrifices in order to advance my career and to break down negative stereotypes about Filipinos, so it HURTS to see how one article can potentially tarnish the image of my community, which has supported me throughout my life and career. To PistolPete, I agree that the reason stereotypes exist is that they are true, for the most part. However, people forget that there are reasons for those stereotypes. For example, and readers please correct me if I’m wrong, Filipinos have historically joined the navy or entered the nursing field in order to speed up their immigration to the United States. Of course, the public will see many Filipino in the navy or nursing and assume that these are the only occupations Filipinos are qualified to have. Stereotypes are harmful and shouldn’t be presented in isolation. To the editors of the San Diego Reader, what was the reason for sharing this article? Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for bringing things into the light even if it’s not pleasing to hear (for example, pollution in the Philippines or human trafficking), but how does this article help Filipinos or anyone else? Was it just to make fun of Filipino stereotypes? Lastly to Maecel, I don’t know if you’re just trying to change how Filipino children are raised or if you are trying to separate yourself from the Filipino community. Just remember, when you’re walking down the street, YOU ARE STILL BROWN WITH BLACK HAIR. You may have gotten the sympathy of the non-Filipino readers through this article, but when they see you on the street, you will just be another crazy driving Filipino who points with her lips.— March 17, 2010 7:29 p.m.