Stereotypes: Are They Really All The Same?

People aren’t all the same. They are built by different characteristics and that’s what shaped each and every one of us something different the others. There are highs and lows in everybody. A different religion and a different story to tell. Everyone is special in their own ways.

Well, here’s my story. I am a girl, well, isn’t that obvious. But little do you know, being a girl isn’t as easy as you think. As a girl, people will expect you to be like perfect. Olden days Chinese preferred boys over girls. My mother has four girls and one boy. Therefore, my grandmother loves my brother more than she loves us. There was never an equal love. My mother’s brother has two boys and one girl. She adores my cousin brother the most out of the whole family. She even stated in her will that about one tenth of her properties goes to him and only him.
Besides that, girls are always looked down at.
Exactly why I have to work harder than the boys, just to earn the name of girls being at the top. To show people out there, that women are as good as men. Men are only liked by more people because everyone is a stereotype and always think that guys are way stronger, smarter and more. But scientific shows, that girls are more brilliant and creative than most guys out there. We girls to can rule the country. Why can’t we be presidents? Why can men only be presidents, prime minister? Queen Elizabeth has proven to us that she can rule a country.

I am the forth child in my family out of 5 children. I am expected to be better than my siblings. Every exam of every year, my mom would compare my exam results with my siblings. She expects me to achieve higher than them. She now expects me to follow my eldest sister’s footsteps and be a doctor. My mom’s expectations towards the younger ones are higher. Especially to me, considering I am sent to a good school. My parents always presume me to excel in everything I do. No mistakes must
happen.

I am Malaysian. Malaysia is somewhere in Southeast Asia. It’s tough being a Malaysian in an outside world. People always look down towards Malaysians and I don’t know why. My friend migrated to Australia when he was standard 4. For the first 2 years, he was bullied to the point he got punched in the face. There’s nothing he could do. He reported to the teacher but the teacher ignored his complaint. We should all be treated equally. Even citizens from American, still do not know where Malaysia is. When I was in rome for 2 weeks, the restaurants’ staffs always shoo-ed us off right after we eat but not when their “kind” are done after their food. They are so rude to foreigners. But when they come to Malaysia, they are treated as if they are kings and queens. Why?

I believe in Buddhism and in a Chinese religion, you have a lot of Gods to believe in. Different Chinese clans have different Gods to believe in. I believe in “Kuan Yin”. She is the goddess of compassion and mercy. Every first and fifteenth of Chinese calendar, we have to go to the temple and pray her. Every year, she has three birthdays to celebrate. My mom and I would go to the temple and pray her bringing oil and flowers along.

Moreover, the culture I am living in is more towards the western style. Instead of speaking mother language, which is Hokkien, my family speaks English at home. My parents are Hokkien. But I as their child, I do not know how to speak Hokkien but only understand. Though I am Chinese, my mandarin has only been adequate for me to get through ordering food in Chinese stores.

Well, that’s me. Nothing can change anything about me. I know I am not as perfect as you think I am and I am not going to care about anyone’s thoughts. I am just going to be me and myself only. I am definitely proud to be me. And these are a part of me. So deal with it.

Done by
Celina.