After reading the article "Taiwanese girls: Stereotypes and reality" in http://mykafkaesquelife.blogspot.tw , i can't help but thinking how most of the stereotypes attributed to Taiwanese women could relate to every other democratic society in the world.
The image of Taiwanese girl's perfection and beauty promoted by the mass media i believe is an S.O.P that should be run by any mass media organization in order to attract consumers. The appreciation of beauty is universal. Whether if it's in Taiwan or The States, the beauty industry will always full of models with similar traits. (slim body, long legs, big bosom, etc.) . Our beloved Aiden even stated just now that she loves looking at gorgeous women in the media, that's how universal their appeal is.
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Kate Upton promoting Skull Candy, an earphone product.
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Pointing Taiwanese TV shows and commercials for being shallow is also far from objective. In The States, shows such as MTV's Jersey Shore and Keeping Up with The Kardashians (eeww...) also conveys a shallow message, if there is one. The fact that it also happens in other countries proves the point that we can also find similar phenomenons in other countries as well. Why? because it sells.
Some people would argue and said, "But we don't like Jersey Shore!" . And so do we, not every Taiwanese really watch those shows. The key here is "Diversity". I agree with the writers pointing out that outside the stereotype, there are millions of Taiwanese with different perceptions for what the mass media shown, just like in any other places.
In the end, the writers listed out a less-media-related stereotypes. I agree with those points, i do believe the cultural influence plays a bigger role here (such as Taiwanese wedding, friendship, maternal bond, etc.)
The fault of the Taiwanese media is the fact that they often support the existing stereotypes, strengthening the popular mindset to the people instead of proving otherwise. The media emphasized the shallow image of Taiwanese women without exploring more about what's behind it or even ignore the significance of smart and successful women.
While foreign media had started to exploit more on the dazzling power of inner beauty such as the beautiful voice of Susan Boyle, or a Forbes list dedicated to businesswomen
(The World's most Powerful women in Business 2012, http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2012/08/22/worlds-most-powerful-women-in-business-indra-nooyi-sheryl-sandberg-meg-whitman/) , Taiwanese media still uses the exploitation of sexy good looking superstars as their trump cards.
We can't really erase stereotypes, it will always exist. The least that we can do is to balance it and prove it's inaccuracy. And the media plays a big role here.
On the other hand, media also should straighten up how foreigners are portrayed...
It's barely a secret that one of the phenomenon here in Taiwan is that Taiwanese people tend to treat foreigners, especially Caucasian people, in a much more friendly behavior. I believe it marks the existence of a cultural stereotype, believing that white foreigners is a much more superior, nice, and more polite than the locals or other races, creating an unfair and racist image to foreigners from other races.
As depicted in this article , http://www.chinapost.com.tw/commentary/letters/2012/01/21/329634/Myths-of.htm , Taiwanese should break the rigid stereotypes of international people. Not every white people is a superhero or a saint. When we put it into a bigger scope, this racial issue is just unacceptable in the 21st century. Seeing non-white as an inferior race is simply too narrow minded for a country as developed as the Republic of China.
For Taiwanese youngsters to advance more in today's globalized society, the framework of this "foreigner myths" should also be modified, if not stopped. The idea of horizontal inter-relations between human beings should be emphasized instead of the hierarchical/vertical one, which also lies deep in Chinese culture. Only by seeing ourselves and other international people as equals, we can eliminate the mental block existing in today's inter-cultural relations. Without the mental block resulted from a long rooted stereotypes, there won't be any hesitation or prejudice when one interact in a multi-racial society.
Media can play its role by stopping the idolization of foreigners on TV or other media. The trend of "localizing" western people that can speak Chinese should be reduced. It is irrefutable to say that Taiwan is a homogenic society, yet it should be open to other cultures and perceive them in a correct way. Media holds the wand to start conducting the existing mindset into a better path.
From these two different analysis, one on Taiwanese women, and one on foreigners. We could see how media plays a double-sided coin role in the society.
So, is media a weapon of mass destruction?Or an equipment for a vigorous construction?
Your choice.
