"Typical American woman"

[peacetraveler22]

I don't know how foreigners perceive the "typical American woman." However, three times this week, I have been called this.

Stereotypes - they are very damaging in many cases, and must be quashed. We are all influenced by stereotypes on some level, but I really try to erase them from memory when traveling, forming impressions based only on pure experience. Most recently, I can say it about Georgia - where everyone warned me about all kinds of things, when in reality I encountered almost none of the horrors mentioned. In the end, we are responsible for the company we keep. You have the choice to surround yourself with good, positive and uplifting...or, you can run wild with the animals in the zoo.

Most people using this phrase - "typical American woman" have never even met, or had any real experience with an American woman. Therein lies the problem...that is all I really want to say for today. :)

Comments

[moskitow.livejournal.com]

"Most people using this phrase - "typical American woman" have never even met, or had any real experience with an American woman."
I would add that most of them won't even have a chance to have this experience :)
In 15 years living here I became "a typical American woman"(at least I hope so) but with a Russian accent.
For me the term means: self-sufficient, active woman who doesn't put up with b.s. All the rest - just deviations.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I don't think they want the chance to meet us...:) Self-sufficient women - probably they can be found all over the world. The difference is in how society perceives them. In American culture, it is just ordinary...in others, it is viewed as strange or radical. I can't imagine any other way honestly. It's like a prison to be totally dependent on another for basic life necessities like money, food, heat. It's an open invitation for manipulative behavior in my view.

[wwweekend.livejournal.com]

Independent, responsible and positive... just what they do not like about women :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Who wants to be with a person who isn't positive? Never understood this...it's so exhausting to be around a constant pessimist, whiner, complainer. There's enough negative energy in the world already, I don't want to be surrounded by it with my boyfriend or partner. Only a weak man is threatened by an independent woman, and the reason is simple. They are much harder to control. :)

[wwweekend.livejournal.com]

If somebody is not positive, she/he is not a whiner or complainer, perhaps. A positive person is somebody who also has control over what he/she does. It is in line with being independent and responsible. Who wants a woman who has control over her own life? :)

[maks j-fry (from livejournal.com)]

This particular woman I always considered as typical american one: https://youtu.be/KqTXc5grgBg

Middle-aged, slightly overweight, expressive, doesn't have kids, likes talking about sex stuff. I don't know if she is really typical or not. The funny thing she is from Canada but I think there's no big difference.

[yacc11.livejournal.com]

Ha-ha - I had a chance to see "typical american woman". :)))
But mosty I can only say something about the exterior and a little bit about the public behaviour.
And to be honest: there are strong differences in style for white/african-origin/hispanic-orgin women :)))
I would rather suppose that "self-sufficient / independent / responsible" are rather stereotypes based on media :)))

And by the way - you look like typical white american woman in terms of the exterior :)))

[bruce-drillis.livejournal.com]

Don't know about stereotypes but when I see or hear "American woman" suddenly Lenny Kravitz starting to sing in my head :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah. Great song! I love Lenny! :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

What about public behavior is different from your view? Of course, there are some similarities in groups, dependent on country. I do not deny this, but always believe it is just better to judge each individual person based on their own actions - not to ignore, disregard or immediately be skeptical based on some stereotypes about which you've read or heard.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

She is very expressive, with exaggerated facial movements. I would not say this is typical. :)) Tons of American women are still having kids, don't worry. Why do you think American women like to talk about sex? Many are still uptight about such issues...again, it is dependent on personality, not the country from which you originate. I'm sure there are plenty of females in Russia who openly talk about sex and/or their physical desires and needs.

[maks j-fry (from livejournal.com)]

>Tons of American women are still having kids

Yeah, but they're not so typical for me, they're mostly black or latino but not white.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I don't see the problem. There are many pathways to fulfillment in life...reproduction is only one of them. I've never viewed not having children as any kind of negative, unless of course you really want one and cannot due to health or infertility reasons. Then, it is quite tragic. :( Birth rates are declining in most Western countries, not unique to America.

[maks j-fry (from livejournal.com)]

I didn't say this is negative. I said that in my view a typical american woman doesn't have kids. She is all about career or something.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You are wrong...my suburban neighborhood is filled with almost all stay at home moms. So, the USA is the same as all countries - there are different types of women here, different types of marriages/relationships. We can't lump everyone together. And, in general, I think it's very good when a woman is concerned about her career, growth, and being able to provide for herself. Others feel differently...though I cannot understand why.

[yacc11.livejournal.com]

>What about public behavior is different from your view?
Might probably I forgot some details but seems to russian women widely use cell phones while walking in contrast to american women :)))

And, for instance, afro-american women gesticulate a lot when they are emotionally excited - I saw that when some party did check-in to the low-coster flight and find out that they need to pay extra money for luggage since they forgot to pay that during the buying of tickets at the company site :)))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Hmm...interesting perceptions. Thanks for sharing. :) And come visit us again sometime!

[Александр Марков (from livejournal.com)]

excuse my interjection, but come to Utah and you'll be surprised how people are predominantly white there with tons of kids.

[yacc11.livejournal.com]

I will try to visit next year :)))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Please write again if you're in the DC area. Will try to make it out this time...:)

[maks j-fry (from livejournal.com)]

No, this is bad. Women are meant to bring and raise babies and nothing more. It's so sad when they're doing something else. Not cool, man!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

But you have told me your wife is highly educated and also works, if I recall. So why did you marry her? :)

[maks j-fry (from livejournal.com)]

Yeah. This is the truth! But you don't know why she and other women get education here in Russia. I'd like to explain you this through famous anecdote, I hope I can do it.

A father makes his daughter to go to University but she doesn't want. She says - why should I go there for 5 years if in the end I still get married, make some kids and stuck in the kitchen? The father says - the difference is who will be your husband. If you don't go to University it would probably be a plumber or something if you go there it could be a doctor, lawyer or even better.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Sick anecdote, to brainwash young women that their whole life and motives should center around finding a man. Also, I see nothing wrong with a plumber as long as they are hard-working, kind and loving.

[maks j-fry (from livejournal.com)]

What?! I hope it makes you laugh. I tried. O man, shame on me.