My roommate was watching "America's Next Top Model" on Sunday, and I could not help overhearing.
One of the contestants was French.
The judges kept on calling her "mademoiselle" and attempting (badly) to speak a few words of French.
When she appeared to have emotional issues brought on by stress, the other contestants talked about her in the asides typical of reality shows, saying "wake up, you're not in France anymore."
Well, guess what? She noticed. No, this isn't France.
What is it with the fascination for French people? Every time I mention I'm French, people start trying to speak to me (and invariably butcher both grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, AND spelling), ask me to say something in French, mention that they spent a week in Paris during some Spring Break or other.
The thing is, I don't care. I don't care.
Once they've gotten to know me a bit better, they start making French jokes.
Do I go around making American jokes? I don't think so.
Once they know me even better, they start making fun of my pronunciation and limited knowledge of American culture. Instead of being known for my personality, I am just "the French girl."
Why?
America is not a culture, it is a mix of many cultures. Why make fun of them?
That contestant wasn't pretending to be in France. She was on an American show, speaking American, and interacting with Americans. There's no need to make her stand out by labeling her as French, speaking to her in French. It's not because she's French that she is having a nervous breakdown, it's because she is in a cutthroat environment where people are constantly judging and demeaning her and the others.
Why always the French?
When I was in seventh grade, a teacher kindly asked me if any of the other kids were being mean to me for being French. I was only twelve, I didn't know and neither did my friends. They were fascinated by the fact that I wasn't American, and I was just trying to keep up with an alien world.
Today, I see her point. I understand her concern. And I'm grateful for it.
But I am enraged and every day more irritated at the way everyone acts.
If you keep treating me like I'm different, some sort of freak, why should I try to fit in?
Being French is something I'm proud of.
America is also something I'm proud of.
But I'm not going to embrace a country which prides itself on being open and tolerant if it points me out.
Yes, it's late, and I'm tired and incoherent, but please. Stop it. Stop. It.
One of the contestants was French.
The judges kept on calling her "mademoiselle" and attempting (badly) to speak a few words of French.
When she appeared to have emotional issues brought on by stress, the other contestants talked about her in the asides typical of reality shows, saying "wake up, you're not in France anymore."
Well, guess what? She noticed. No, this isn't France.
What is it with the fascination for French people? Every time I mention I'm French, people start trying to speak to me (and invariably butcher both grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, AND spelling), ask me to say something in French, mention that they spent a week in Paris during some Spring Break or other.
The thing is, I don't care. I don't care.
Once they've gotten to know me a bit better, they start making French jokes.
Do I go around making American jokes? I don't think so.
Once they know me even better, they start making fun of my pronunciation and limited knowledge of American culture. Instead of being known for my personality, I am just "the French girl."
Why?
America is not a culture, it is a mix of many cultures. Why make fun of them?
That contestant wasn't pretending to be in France. She was on an American show, speaking American, and interacting with Americans. There's no need to make her stand out by labeling her as French, speaking to her in French. It's not because she's French that she is having a nervous breakdown, it's because she is in a cutthroat environment where people are constantly judging and demeaning her and the others.
Why always the French?
When I was in seventh grade, a teacher kindly asked me if any of the other kids were being mean to me for being French. I was only twelve, I didn't know and neither did my friends. They were fascinated by the fact that I wasn't American, and I was just trying to keep up with an alien world.
Today, I see her point. I understand her concern. And I'm grateful for it.
But I am enraged and every day more irritated at the way everyone acts.
If you keep treating me like I'm different, some sort of freak, why should I try to fit in?
Being French is something I'm proud of.
America is also something I'm proud of.
But I'm not going to embrace a country which prides itself on being open and tolerant if it points me out.
Yes, it's late, and I'm tired and incoherent, but please. Stop it. Stop. It.
1 comment:
Oh dear. I could write a very long essay on this posting L'Archiduchesse. Of course I sympathise with you but your plight is shared by so many in every country - even New Zealand. Not that that makes it any better for you.
I've written and re-written more of this comment but have backed away and saved it in my drafts. I might come back to it when I'm back from my croquet tournament. Oh what a subject you have raised.
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