How does a stereotype come into existence?
Does it take one, five, ten, or more instances of something similar happening among a type of person to become solidified in ‘common’ thought? Similar to first impressions, one bad experience with a person from a broad nationality can outweigh the ten good impressions. A rude French person shows little regard for others, A Chinese person spits in the street or leaves a mess, and of course a loud, obnoxious American can be heard from across a bus station demanding their preferences be catered to. Are these stereotypes fair? Likely not. Am I immune to casting stereotypes without even thinking? Absolutely not.
In my experience, Americans, specifically among the backpacker community, tend to travel incognito (even going so far as stitching Canadian flag patches on their bags). Either shying away from saying they are American or openly disdaining America to distance themselves from current events when others critique. I have heard Americans are Loud, Obnoxious, Entitled, Ignorant of Culture, and the list goes on and on. In that regard, I can see how one would be hesitant to raise their hand and be unjustly thrown into a nasty stereotype. That hesitance by halfway decent Americans, unfortunately, is the fuel for the downward whirlpool of perception Americans face while traveling abroad.
How do we change these perceptions?
One interaction at a time. The ability for just one interaction to make the difference is immense. It is mind blowing how one nice action can create a ripple effect among a spider web of perception. It can cause the person affected to pause the next time someone else is critiquing Americans and say ‘well not all Americans are bad’ or ‘it is unfair to say all Americans are [insert stereotype]’.
To be clear, you don’t have to agree with everything your country is doing at the time (likely insert more travel and reading if you do). Disagree with politics, war, or lack of humanitarian efforts? Perfect, make that clear, but don’t throw America under the bus as a whole and act as if you are holier than the rest of the people you grew up with and knew. Next time you hand your US passport to a customs agent in random country X and they scan it, barely glance at you, and send you on your way…consider the golden ticket you have been given and maybe maybe be a bit more proud and grateful for it.
Every country in existence has done some bad stuff in its past, present, and future. Every society has good and bad people, people you are friends with and people you disagree with. Be proud of who you are, take responsibility for your own actions, and acknowledge that there may be a better way out there (that’s a main reason to travel and learn!).
I strongly believe in being the change you want to see in the world and that it is magnified while traveling and being a representative of your beliefs and your people. I go out of my way while traveling to show the world that Americans are human too with our virtues and our flaws. So the next time you head out into the world, try to change those perspectives one by one and proudly Travel American.
-Michael
Adventuriquity 