I’ve recently come across an eye-opening TED talk about the dangers of a single story, detailing how Africa is misrepresented to the outside world by the media showing only certain negative aspects of its inhabitants. I have personally felt the consequences of stereotyping due to this single story phenomenon, which has also affected my home country of Romania – among many other nations I’m sure.
Single Story: Gypsies
When I was still a teenager, my family immigrated to Canada, and I’ve lived there for more than 10 years. People were always asking us, “So where are you guys from?”, and we’d say, “Romania”. Many, many times, the first words that came out of their mouths after hearing that were, “Oh, Romania, gypsies!” Yeah, you got this! You’ve got it so right… NOT! I was appalled at how this view of the country has traveled across the ocean and was presented to us natives as “the” image of our country. Like any stereotype, this view does have some truth to it. But despite the fact that the Roma population is oftentimes causing trouble, other things are being left out, like entire settlements that are living an honest life and contributing positively to the community; their beautiful music, dance, and way of life in general; and also, the way they’ve been treated since long ago, and the struggles they’ve had to fit in.
The other thing I hear very often when I mention my country is, “Ceausescu!” True, we were under communist rule, and that without doubt weakened the country. We’re not living on the outskirts of society though; we’ve evolved a little since then. Which brings me to my second point.
Photo Source: https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photography-romanian-gipsy-image22615322
Single Story: Poverty
A few years ago I was on a cultural trip through Romania with a bus full of middle aged US citizens eager to discover our music, dance, traditions, and sights. We had just arrived at our hotel and I was having a conversation with one of the women about our rooms there, and then about housekeeping in general. She said, “I didn’t think you had wash machines in Romania!” Oh my – my parents had a wash machine – albeit a very rudimentary one, by today’s standards – but that was over 20 years ago when Ceausescu was still ruling!
Photo Source: http://www.occupy.com/article/how-feel-good-about-global-poverty#sthash.moE7IvrS.dpbs
Single Story: Thieves
Some of the country’s citizens have indeed traveled abroad and built quite a bad reputation for all the rest of us Romanians. Everyone suffers due to this stereotype. My dad went to a job interview in Canada and realized that the person interviewing him was also Romanian. He was happy he found a compatriot and started talking Romanian with him, only to be met with instant coldness and reserve. He was told that they better stick to English, and my dad got the feeling that these people, although from Romania, deeply distrusted their own countrymen.
When traveling through Europe I always spoke English, not a word of Romanian, and always showed my Canadian passport, for fear I may be treated less than well by the many people who dislike us, be that legitimate or not.
Photo Source: http://tcchancenter.com/tips-prevent-identity-thieves-using-identity-phone-gets-stolen/
Single Story For Others, Many Stories For Me
Over the years I’ve realized that people have been fed a single story that concentrates mostly on a few negative aspects, some true and others embellished, and leaves out all other aspects that would be needed in order to properly characterize a nation.
Nevertheless, I am immensely happy to have been raised in such a rich and diverse culture, in a country whose many faults I know too well, but where people are warm and open, the streets are full and alive even when it’s been raining for days, where you can go to the beach or hike up the mountains, where marketplaces
are not extinct yet and you can eat real fruit spring, summer and fall. And guess what: we’re not being charged when we answer the phone! Whoever calls, pays! Who’s got it better now?