Myths and Stereotypes About French People
92When moving to a foreign country, it's easy to give in to stereotypes. It's important to understand many of these stereotypes, where they come from, and whether or not they are true.
There are several myths about the French people that are told in the US and a lot of people believe these things are true. The fact is that these stories are actually mass generalizations.
While these stereotypes are, for the most part, untrue, many of these stories have some sort of reasoning behind them. Then there are some that are just plain silly. It is important to debunk myths surrounding different cultures, because they can be hurtful to others.
Many French people are proud of their heritage, for many reasons, and it is important for everyone to respect cultural differences. This goes to show how silly some of our myths might appear to someone in the country that the myth pertains to. French stereotypes are just a few examples of the silly things we come up with.
Myth #1: Everyone in France Smokes
While there are many people in France who do smoke, not everyone in France smokes. Many young people do not smoke.
There is also a public smoking ban in France that is currently in effect which makes smoking in public illegal. So anyone who does not like to be around cigarette smoke is free to visit France without coming back with lung cancer.
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Myth #2: French People Smell Bad
What? Hygiene is practiced in France… just as it is in the US. This one's a total lie! The average French person bathes or showers at least once a day just as people do in the United States. This myth is extra silly because France manufactures a huge amount of perfume, so if anything, you'd think French people smell better!
Myth #4: The French Hate Americans
The French are able to separate the American people from the administration that runs the US. Those who travel France and are respectful of any cultural differences will find that the French are warm, friendly people. It's important to think about where this myth comes from.
When visiting France, do as the French do. It's important to be respectful of cultural differences no matter where you're at. Problems start when we are disrespectful of others beliefs and lifestyles that problems.
By getting rid of the mentality that "America is the best country in the world" and accepting that there is no best, more people will have respect for Americans. It's just not healthy to have an "I'm from the best country in the world" mentality. It's not accurate and it's not a great way to get along with others.
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Myth #3: You Have to Speak French to Visit France
This depends where you're going. If you're visiting large cities like Marseille, Paris, Lyon, etc., then chances are you'll be able to get by just speaking English. If you're going off the beaten path to explore small towns and villages, then knowing some French is helpful. Of course, those fluent in French will have it easier, but it's not impossible to travel around France knowing no French.
It's considered polite to attempt to speak French (even if it's out of a phrase book) instead of assuming someone speaks English. I recommend starting out by asking the person if they speak English: Parlez-vous Anglais?
Myth #5: French Women Don’t Shave Their Armpits
As one of the most popular French myths, this myth was probably spread by some guy seeing the one French woman who hadn’t shaved in a week. There probably are some women in France who don’t shave their armpits, but there are probably an equal percentage of women in the US who don’t shave their armpits.
Myth #6: The French are Snobby & Rude
This one depends on perspective. Before calling someone snobby or rude, it's important to understand cultural differences.
With a little education on a particular situation, a person can find they can understand and get along with just about anyone. That doesn't go to say that there are absolutely no rude people in France. There are rude people everywhere, it's a fact of life!
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Thanks for that! ;)
Those aren't the myths I was thinking of when I read your title. What about whether French husbands are routinely unfaithful and it's no big deal, French women are the most stylish in the world and the French just don't 'get' pop and rock music?
heh heh
I am French, and i am sad when i think about american peoples who still believe myths about us...
They think France is still in 1950.
French peoples do not hate Americans peoples, they just dislike when they say we stink, we are rude...
Really, this is sad.
woa !!!! french people are the BEST ..and im not only sayin that bcuz im mixed with french and im redz but its true french is the MOST STYLISH country evaaa !!!! like loreal paris .......and many other huge companies have started of in france and spread through out the world . americans are rude a bit but sometimes the frecn are A BIT RUDE TO !! heck every country u gonna find rude ppl so just suck it up and live with it !!!!
very trueee !!!! "guest" totally agree with u 100%
pyro, I agree with you. When a person judges people based on a stereotype, it's a really sad thing. Thank you for your thought provoking comment.
Well, I don't know if the French are snooty and rude based on expierience, but personally I think that they just probably come off to be rude to some Americans because of cultural differences. I think that if people spent more time trying to understand one another instead of judge and create stereotypes, we'de actually get to see the true positive characteristics of people in foreign countries.
#5 is really hillarious. What if women havent shaved her armpit. Do somebody ask whx he is not brushing today.
Great job.
#4 That's funny because that's exactly what I think about Americans :) I don't hate them at all but it's true that the few ones I've met were like "I'm from the best country in the world" and didn't respect the French culture and kept on behaving like idiots. But they're not ALL like that of course :)
I don't know about stereotypes but I do have an opinion about smoking here. I am in Paris right now and have been here a few times a year since 1988. Ban smoking in public is true. Before the ban I cannot go to any restaurants without gagging. But having said that, I still have to dodge smoke after the ban. A lot of less formal eateries have walls of folding doors that open up the place completely to the outside and have tables set up outside. Unless the eatery is really deep, even if you sit inside you will be wreathed in second hand smoke throughout your entire visit from the people seated on the outside of the restaurant as well as the restaurant workers and patrons seated inside standing right over the demarcation line to smoke. When you are walking down the street, I find that I have smoke blown at me from passersby with cigarettes in hand in addition to groups of people from the shops, offices, restaurants etc all smoking outside. As lots of pavements are very narrow there is no room to give them a wide berth so I mostly cover my nose and mouth and try to get by them as quickly as possible. Not always easy as they take up most of the sidewalk and you have to watch out that the cigarettes being waved about do not burn your clothes as you squeeze by. One of the more unpleasant aspects of visiting here. I have no idea whether these are all French people who are smoking but I would guess that at least a good portion of them would be.
I have been to France, and especially Paris, many times since I was very young and I'm not young now! I have friends there who I have known since I was 13 and I have to say, as much as I love these people and my time spent in their country, certain things are or were true, but some have changed. My friend, a very attractive woman, did not shave her arms until fairly recently. Some of the people in Paris were truly awfully rude but in the last 10 years or so have improved hugely. The rest of the country I have found to be pretty much like everywhere else; some are nice, some aren't, so I think as an English woman, go with an open mind and enjoy their lovely country, food, wine and people. I really do know of an awful lot of smelly and rude English people too!
I'm French, and I'm totally in love with my country, so I really have to comment that article! So, that's true that a lot of people in France smoke but it's really bette since the ban, cause before it, you couldn't sit in a café without suffocating, but now that's quite different, and if you are lucky, you even can smell cofee went you enter a café! Then about women that don't shave their armpits, that's totally wrong, and even that made me laugh because I though saying things like that was so stupid ! About smells, that's wrong too, and about the fact that we are rude, I would say that unfortunately, it's not totally wrong, because when you're walking down the streets in Paris, people are hitting you without apologize, and if you smile, parisians will look at you with a strange look in the eyes ! but anyway, France is the capital a fashion, Paris is so posh and that's a really beautiful country ! We are so kind, I swear !!!! 8)
Hey hey, I have to agree with Emilie.T here! The French have improved their smoking habits 100%, and we do shave! However, there might be some rude Parisians but most kind and helpful! I'm going to bring up a stereotype that I didn't see here: French women do in fact wear tops at beaches! Not every women will be topless at the beach!
If you don't believe me, VISIT FRANCE! I promise, you won't regret!
Hi I'm a mix of French and Spanish and my parents really want me to go to Marseille for this summer so I can meet my whole family for the first time and I would like to know if when I visit Paris will alot of people stare at me and my sister like they do here in the U.S because were identical twins and alot of people stop and give us attention asking if it's fun being a twin and the usual questions I just want to know if twins are common in France since on my dads side there are no twins and if it's not that common to have twins in European countries thanx:)
i had dated a french guy before, he looks clean, his hands clean, but his breath is not. smells like a fart.
i know it could be depending on what he eats, but whether he just brush his teeth doesnt make the difference or gargle.
and eventhough perfumes originated from france doesnt mean they smell better, taking a shower twice a day and washing up ur hygiene is way different in putting a perfume everyday.. cos ur natural odor stinks when u dont take a bath as u needed in a day despite of covering ur body with a high quality perfume, and for me this reason only proves that french sticks with using perfume instead of taking a bath! hahaha.
Another one - "the French are sexually promiscuous immoral people."
I doubt that, I think Europeans have a much more sane approach to "sexual issues" than do the hypocritical Americans.
You should check out Paris syndrome. Around 20 Japanese tourists a year are so shocked by Parisian rudeness they suffer serious psychiatric symptoms from hallucinations to feelings persecution etc, etc. The Japanese Embassy has a routine for flying them home.
Of course, this probably says more about the Japanese than the French. The French are generally more correct and formal in their behavior than English people, for example.
J'aime France:). Parle a vous la Francaise? Moi? Parle la Francais tres Mal:(. J'ai etudier pour 4 ans! J'ai oblier :).
I hope to go to France this year! I'm still figuring out how to trick my husband into going:) lol.
In my classes - they taught how to speak to travel there - so I'm very confident that even though my French is very bad - I could get around easily! So glad they don't smell and the ladies are clean:) hahaha!
The common and all other stereotypes about French people I saw in a funny tv show "Allo, allo" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086659/
I remember it a lot since I watched it as a kid. However, I knew even then that it is just for fun, not for real.
Recently, I heard about a joke called "French shower". That is when one should take a shower but instead, only put deodorant :-D
I think that this term originates from medieval times, when
almost no people in Europe had a regular bath. Therefore they used perfumes, and all perfumes were made in France or countries to become France in today's border lines.
I have no intention to insult anyone. If I did so, I sincerely apologize.
What's so great about shaved armpits? What about shaved hoohas?
It is amazing that the myths and stereotypes are so persistent. Things we once have learned clings on to us even if we don't believe in them and even if we know they aren't true! I like this hub and the way you adress the myths and stereotypes:) Great job,
Tina
This is interesting and I enjoyed reading all the comments as well. I have never been to France but my son was there and enjoyed it very much:)
Stereotypes are really not a pretty way for people to base an opinion on other people. I look at it this way: there may be some French people who are rude, don't take showers and anything else but I live in the US and know of people here from the US that are rude and don't take showers often. I am sure there are people that are like this everywhere and wouldn't say that the whole country is this way. I am wondering if people thinking the French are rude started from the difference in language. If you are from another country and learning English, you will have times of having a hard time pronouncing things and finding the right words to say. This may make it sound as tho you are rude but in reality you are having a hard time getting out what you want to say. It would be like me trying to communicate in French-I don't know much so I would probably not be as easy to understand. Just a thought.
I lived in France when I was very young. I remember the friendly people and the good food fresh from the garden.
ok, here we go:
1) Myth: I have lots of friends who do not smoke and have never smoked.
2) Myth
3) Myth, however I have notice that most people who can speak another language are very shy to say so and if you ask them directly "do you speak xxx" they will say NO, even if they can. But if you try to speak French and they see you struggling with it, they will be less shy to struggle with their English.
4) Myth, I think that most people I know just don't care!
5) Myth, although they are not as hairy as other Europeans like the Spaniards, so probably need to shave less often.
6) Myth: you got it spot on, I think most perceived rudeness is mainly due to cultural differences.
I agree with many of the comments. It is true the French smoke too much and can be rude, but Americans should not take it personally. I'm French and they are rude to me especially in Paris. French people in the customer service industry are equal opportunity rude to everyone. The French are very stylish and really get good food and are very particular about what they ingest. As for the unshaven armpits, that is a mystery to me that that myth is widely believed by Americans. It is reinforced by comics and SNL skits. I really have NEVER seen a French woman with unshaven armpits. The only woman I ever saw with unshaven armpits was an American woman I was working with who was a semi hippie.
French peeps smoke, are rude, and shve their pits as much as everyone else. They aren't like like some kind of crazy psychos of something!
hahahahaha..... a french person must of wrote this article....hahahahhahahaha
Another few stereotypes; all French are beautiful (not my opinion), everyone in France dresses well. Paris is also considered the capital of romance though that is not necessarily true.
This is MY cliche of french people:
- They like complaining
- They used to speak with a cig in a hand, and glass of wine in the other.
- Lot of them are superficial
- They are sooo romantic, especially when they serve a dish and say "Fais avec amour = Made with love"
- They are very polite when you're friend with them
- I love see them eatin their croissants, their baguette bread
- Contrary to Italian or Spanish people, they don't speak loud, they're more reserved
- They love share their point of view, even if everybody doesn't care
- And to conclude, I find they are pretty open minded on the world, they're not concentrated on themself
TATY, Venezuela :)
meech741 2 years ago
I've had the opportunity to go to Paris, a long time ago, and you are right. Good Hub! Cheers!