¿Una siestecita? Defeating stereotypes about Mexicans

Usually, stereotypes don’t have anything to do with reality.

As defined in the dictionary, a stereotype is “a simplified and standardized conception or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group.”

Stereotypes tell us that all Japanese are small and sneaky; Germans are tough and cold, Chinese are good at math, Argentineans are arrogant, Americans are greedy and obese, and French people don’t like to take a shower. And the list could go on and on.

Fortunately, we now have many more possibilities of looking and exploring cultures through a variety of lenses and that has helped to break down some of these stereotypes and promotes a better understanding of cultures around the world.

Last Monday, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development released a study that dispels the stereotype that all Mexicans are lazy.

According to the study, Mexicans work longer days than anyone else in OECD countries, devoting 10 hours to paid and unpaid work, such as cleaning or cooking at home.  In contrast, Belgians work the least at seven hours, compared with an OECD average of eight hours per day among the countries surveyed.

Unfortunately those long hours don’t reflect better life conditions. On the contrary, Mexicans have the second-highest level of income and inequality and the highest level of relative poverty in the OECD. Furthermore, the study also indicated that nearly half of Mexicans who responded to the survey find it difficult or very difficult to get by on their current income.

Another interesting data from the OECD study shows that Mexicans report the third- highest positive psychological experiences (feeling rested, smiling, learning, and enjoyment) and lower than average negative experiences (pain, worry, stress, sadness, depression). The U.S. ranks 10th in the same category.

The OECD’s findings totally destroy the stereotype about the indolence of Mexicans.

It should help rid us of the offensive image that depicts Mexicans sleeping under a cactus and to explore more about the culture, habits and social conditions of the different countries around the world.

In fact, the idea of Mexicans being lazy came from the observations that peasant farm workers would take naps early in the afternoon, without considering that these laborers had begun their work day before the sun had risen, and they napped at that time to avoid the hot sun.

Now that we have dismissed the “lazy Mexican” stereotype, we can all feel free to take naps.

 

Comments

[Arthur Barling]

Mexicans are violent lazy animals that lives off government assistance (welfare, food stamps, etc.) If you're standing in line at Walmart, just about every Mexican will pulls out a Lone Star card. They also come to America thinking we're suppose to cater to them because they don't speak English. People come from all over the world and they know how to speak English except for Mexicans. I support the Arizona law and racial profiling.

[Steve]

Unfortunately we still have to live among racist pigs like loner Arthur Barling who with half a brain, and most likely less, posted his hate comment.

Arthur go back to your hole and stay there!

[CiberKatt]

Kudos to Arthur for exercising his 1st Amendment rights! Stereotypes are based on some degree of truth. For example, black people like fried chicken and watermelon. It's true! Japanese people are horrible drivers...also true! So the "stereotype" about Mexicans coming across the border and expecting us to cater to them also rings true. Fortunately for us, the people of Mexico are "taking care of their own people."

[Chiristy]

arthur barling, before criticizing other people you should look at a mirror first, you are obviously very ignorant yourself. Another thing, if you are going to talk about people not knowing English maybe you should learn proper English first.

[P. Nuss]

Yeah, I kind of agree with Ciberkatt. I'm sure not every black person drinks koolaide and smokes menthol cigarettes, but I've never seen one that didn't. Not all Chineese people can be blinded with tooth floss, but most can. Does this mean that all stereotypes are wrong? I don't think so, kudos to Arthur and Ciberkatt for not being afraid to tell the truth. You guys are so brave.

[P. Nuss]

What kind of name is Chiristy anyway? You shouldn't worry about Arthur's use of the english language until you learn to spell your name correctly. I've been a Mexican all of my life and I agree with him. I know I'm lazy and a vicious animal at times, but I also take time out to pack my short stocky esposa and my 11 ninos into our 1973 Ford pick up and take them down to the Rio Grande for a swim and some fishing. I'd bet my orange cowboy boots with the long curved pointed toes and my matching taco hat and belt that Arthur and Ciberkatt are great americans who are just trying to stand up for the people of El Paso.

[emilio serna]

creo que LOURDES CARDENAS edita este tipo de articulos , obiamente para crear comentarios racistas y a si de esta forma ganar reconocimiento por algo que ella no escribe ni investiga. si quiere sobresalir como jornalista me gustaria saber cuantos tiene en diarios importantes .

[CiberKatt]

Chingate, Emilio! Tu no sabes NADA!

[Tom]

You all don't know squat. I just witnessed a murder on a YouTube video, (A Zeta Execution). In America, most murders are committed by ethnic individuals... The highest being MEXICAN Latinos... Who's killing hundreds in Juarez? Let me guess...Its the Potato eating Irish?...No... Its the Spaghetti eating Italians...No...How about the Fried Chicken eating blacks...NO! Its MEXICAN Latinos! ( I made sure here, not to place a stereo type label) You know what's the saddest part about that... Your culture is all about False pride. All puffed up machismo...Ignorance and unchallenged tradition. You delight in the destruction and breakdown of the world around you. The infra structure and societal calamity about you is proof of it. You suck out the lives of everyone around you, keep each other and everyone else down, because you can't stand to see others succeed and surpass you. Be it at home or abroad Your lives are inundated with corruption and ignorance. I would love to see an influx of Blacks, Irish, Japanese, Chinese over run this town It would make for VAST IMPROVEMENTS in Quality of life here, not to mention bring in TRUE ethnic balance. Now If you think I've been harshly stereo typing...I invite you...rather urge you to prove my aspersions to be wrong. Do a study and see what comes up.

[Jesus]

Comments like these only confirms the ignorance that some people share about another,really get to know people for what they really are and not for what they are being portrayed on television, internet etc.I have lived in different cities and unfortunally you still see this ingnorant comments about a group of people.The united states is changing, the face of america is not completely white anymore,yes america very diverse and we can not cover the sun with one finger.

[call it as I see it]

I think Arthur is right to some degree. White women are fat, lazy, and don't like sex, don't cook, don't clean house. White men are greedy, jeolous, very, very insecure, they like to stereotype to make themselves feel better. So..., he is right to some degree!