Cultural Remarks

Now, let me tell you a story all about how people think Carnival is so wow 

And I’d like to take a minute just sit right there, I’ll tell you how stereotypes aren't fair

As a Brazilian, when people meet me they usually get super excited and ask a lot of questions. Most of them are questions such as: “Do you speak Brazilian?”, “OMG, have you ever been to the Amazon? I heard it is amazing!”, “Ahh so you are Brazilian, you must be amazing in football aren't you?”, “Man Brazil… yeah isn't it the place where they have the Carnival with all the girls wearing those costumes?” or “Right, Brazil. There are a lot of pretty girls there am I right?”. 

These stereotypes that include the language, the beauty standards, the customs and geographical knowledge in general are really disturbing. My culture is based on people that love to dance, eat and talk and we are happy at most times. We love nature and parties and we are also very friendly towards one another. I am really proud of my culture and I am happy to call myself Brazilian. I like the way the people think and how we are open minded to the world and I also enjoy how everything can be somehow turned into a party. Another factors the music of my country and the dancing that is absolutely fantastic. But sometimes people don't quite understand the culture and jump to conclusions therefore causing stereotypes. Stereotypes can also be caused by the most famous activities and symbols in Brazil. Brazil isn't really fully connected with the entire world and therefore some can assume multiple things that are simply not true. 

First of all, not many people are aware the Portugal colonised Brazil, therefore we speak Portuguese, not Spanish or Brazilian, and Brazilian isn't even a language it is the nationality. Secondly everyone seems to think that if someone is Brazilian they must love football and be great at it. I personally love football and I am good at it, but there are hundreds of Brazilians who hate football, my brother for example. Football is the sport Brazil is known for and that is why people tend to think that is the only thing that we play. 

Brazil is widely known for the Amazon. The biggest rain forest in the world. What some tend to think is that it is a huge tourist area when in fact it isn’t. It used to be a tourist area, now companies go there and cut down tress and build industries. Also the Amazon isn't a place a lot of people go to because it is a jungle in a way with deadly yet exotic animals, but mainly professional photographers and geologists that go there. Lastly but not least the Carnival and the beauty standards the world has set out for Brazilians. Carnival is a traditional party where for an entire week people go out with their friends and family and listen to live traditional music, drink, eat and dance. On the first day of the Carnival there is always a parade in Rio which is transmitted live to most parts of the world, and in that parade beautiful professional dancers dress up with interesting costumes. That is only the parade to symbolise the start of the Carnival and the people on the parade are professional dancers which are required to wear such costumes. Regardless of what the Carnival really is, because that is the only part that is shown to the rest of the world, that is all they think Carnival is. By displaying only that part we deliberately give the bias impression to the outsiders that everyone in Brazil looks and dresses like those beautiful ladies, which isn't true at all. 

If people understood more about the Brazilian culture there would be so much expectations when it comes to beauty standards and football, and there wouldn't be confusion in the language that we speak. Although stereotypes aren't fair, it is partially Brazil’s fault because that is what they show to the rest of the world. If they want to end the stereotypical remarks, they have to show the rest of out culture.