The Monolithic Fallacy
In today’s English, stereotype is a dirty word. Its connotation is so closely tied to racism that it is effectively considered a synonym. But it is ironic to see how prevalent many statements are made in the same vein when considering ideology.
The polarized atmosphere of American politics seemingly necessitates that we take a position on an issue before it even becomes prevalent. But that’s not the worst of it.
Since living overseas I’ve noticed that the misconception is self-multiplying. Perhaps you could imagine a liberal, gun-owning friend (yes, they exist) sticking up for the second amendment. But, since living in China, I’ve come to notice that many Americans (don’t worry, I’m not going to make the mistake myself of saying all) seem to think that all Chinese people are in love with their government and support it one hundred percent. That is simply not the case.
‘The government’ is a sensitive topic in China, of course. I don’t want word to get around that some foreign teacher, especially one from a country on such shaky terms with the CCP, is riling up students in an English class. I don’t feel it’s my duty to come to foreign countries and do such things, and I realize it would be totally ineffectual, less than a drop in the bucket. I’ve also got a kid on the way and put that way above any politics that isn’t life or death.
But once a week, I teach a current events class, just general news from around the world. So often it happens that we get to talking about laws and ‘government officials’ while broaching different topics. More often than not, I find myself steering the lesson away from controversy.
Of course, these comments are just from structured classes. Too many Americans assume too much about what Chinese people know and what their opinions are on any topic. Just today, someone was telling me, he didn’t know if I had heard, but that there was some trouble in Beijing in 1989. (I got off that topic like it was going out of style. ) I’ve cringed with segued intentions at someone telling me that ‘the Chinese soccer team was a joke and I love China but I hate the government’. ‘Oh, sorry to hear that, what are you doing this weekend?’ Was my perfect response.
If given a monolithic option, all people will naturally fall into it. When I was an exchange student in 2007 here in China, someone asked me why America invaded Iraq for oil. Without even thinking, I laughed hard. I thought it was so funny that this person didn’t realize the debate within the American spectrum, where, at the time, it was such a point of contention. It seemed such a simplified question, ignoring so many millions of different opinions, that it surely must be a joke. Now when I read so many comments from Americans, I don’t find it so humorous. I don’t mean this to sound that Americans are worse than Chinese people, because, given a free press, that’s probably the opposite. But to see all as one is now firmly a mistake in my mind.
