Stereotypes
Nevertheless, the concepts of North and South continue to play an important role in regional stereotypes.
Northerner:
- Is taller and larger in stature
- Has lighter, fairer skin color
- Speaks Mandarin with a northern accent
- Eats more noodles, dumplings and wheat-based foods (rather than rice-based food)
Southerner:
- Is slightly shorter and smaller in stature
- Has slightly darker, tanner skin color
- Speaks Mandarin with a southern accent and/or a southern variety of Chinese such as Yue (Cantonese), Wu, Hakka, Xiang, Min or Gan
- Eats more rice-based foods (rather than wheat-based food)
Note that these are only rough and approximate stereotypes, and are greatly complicated both by further stereotypes by province, city, or even county, and by real life. Though many of these are considered to be stereotypes, there are some studies that illustrate variations of physiological differences in height and body weight, with Southerners on average, lighter and shorter than Northerners.
Read more about this topic: Northern And Southern China
Famous quotes containing the word stereotypes:
“All stereotypes turn out to be true. This is a horrifying thing about life. All those things you fought against as a youth: you begin to realize they’re stereotypes because they’re true.”
—David Cronenberg (b. 1943)
“There are certain stereotypes that are offensive. Some of them don’t worry me, though. For instance, I have always thought that Mammy character in Gone with the Wind was mighty funny. And I just loved “Amos ‘n’ Andy” on the radio. So you see, I have enough confidence in myself that those things did not bother me. I could laugh.”
—Annie Elizabeth Delany (b. 1891)
“There is a striking dichotomy between the behavior of many women in their lives at work and in their lives as mothers. Many of the same women who are battling stereotypes on the job, who are up against unspoken assumptions about the roles of men and women, seem to accept—and in their acceptance seem to reinforce—these roles at home with both their sons and their daughters.”
—Ellen Lewis (20th century)