Mother Tongue - Amy Tan - Preach

In Amy Tans writing "Mother Tongue", a variety of issues are touched upon that are directed upon non-native English speakers. The most prevalent one to me was the stereotypes that people are subjected to. The most common stereotype that many people address to today is the stereotype that all people with Asian ethnicity are very intelligent. This is mainly because of the assumptions from previous knowledge of others and also due to the fact that studies and work is increasingly more rigorous in Asia rather than other countries located elsewhere. This is seemingly wrong to assume. Over 60% of teachers worldwide base marks on ethnicity and “class” rather than quality of work reports Oxford University. If you can’t figure out the wrong in that, then you in fact are stereotypical. Children with names of African or Asian ethnicity were given 15% lower marks reports the Dailymail.

I can often relate to this myself. As I am from South Africa, an issue appeared before me one day whilst I was in mall. I went inside a shop called “Mr.Harveys Parts of Junk” to browse what was to offer. After I saw want I wanted I approached the cashier (who was white) and handed him the toy. He responded with, “20 rand. Only 20 rand. You like Paper (of which he did a gesture) or Plastic (of which he repeated slowly).” Now I can understand that maybe he was a bit deluded but he changed his dialogue after I responded. He didn’t expect me to have perfect English and hence why he spoke to me in broken English. A minority of Black people in South Africa cannot speak perfect English (in terms of punctuation etc.) and instead speak broken English or use hand gestures. The shopkeeper on previous assumptions and very much a stereotype thought I couldn’t speak English based on my skin color. Now similar to Tans issue with her mum and the stockbroker, I can say that it was the only time I had ever been treated that way.

Stereotypes are a common problem in todays society, and whilst I have never really been “stereotyped” I can still say it destroy someone.  I have colored skin and from South Africa yet I speak English as well as you would get in South Africa. Never make assumptions, unless you are studying economics.

Preach.




Sources

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2180585/Ethnic-minority-pupils-underachievement-tackled-blind-marking-bid-remove-teachers-prejudice.html

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130401151715/http://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/RR853.pdf