Whether you mean to or not, we all make assumptions about people we meet. We judge their looks, their style choices and the way they carry themselves. And then we make an assumption on their character and who they are as we get to know them. Alot of the time people don’t do this to be mean or nasty to others. It’s human nature and often we can’t help ourselves. It can take alot of time and effort to re-wire our brains into not doing this.
Now, when it comes to stereotypical assumptions I think a little bit differently. I never understood how you could single out a group of people and try to say they all behave and act the same way. This would be nearly impossible. Yes there are ‘stereotypical’ things that people from certain groups of people do, but you cant just put everyone in the same pot. I think stereotypical assumptions can be really harmful because you have no idea what people are like. Especially if you’ve never met them before.
My good friend Shelly tagged me to do this post, and as I read through hers I wasn’t shocked. She is a strong, proud black woman and all of her stereotypes from others are really stupid. People asked her if she could swim. People assumed she didn’t speak English, people assumed she could dance. All based off a stereotypical idea out there that all black people are the same. Which is obviously again, not true. I really loved this post idea, because its really debunking the stereotypes we have of others, and I think thats a really important thing to do!
So, as she tagged me in this post. I will be sharing 4 stereotypical assumptions people have about me!
I DRINK TEA
Being British means the rest of the world thinks that we are all tea worshippers. I just know that from the outside looking in, everyone thinks we sip on our tea whilst saying “Ello Love” to everyone we meet. Well, newsflash. I hate tea with a passion. I don’t know why, or where it started but I can always remember tasting tea and thinking nope, I hate it. As a kid, I would only ever dunk a biscuit in my parents cups of tea and that was about it. As I got older I really grew to hate the smell of it. And I am proud to say I have never drunk a cup of tea. in my life. And I don’t ever plan to either.
I can confirm though, I have said Ello Love once or twice in my life.
You Might Also Like: 4 of My Biggest Pet Peeves In Life
THAT I AM WHITE BRITISH
One of the biggest and most annoying stereotype people have of me, it that I am White British. People look at me as see my lighter complexion and my straight hair and would assume my ethnicity. I am so proud of my heritage and where my family comes from. And it really annoys me and makes me so sad when people assume I am just British. Or when I tell them my ethnicity they tell me I’m lying.
I have always struggled to feel like I belonged in any camp when it comes to my ethnic background. Half of my family is white (British and French) and the other half is black (Jamaican). I have so many family members of all colours, shapes and sizes and thats what I love about being mixed race. I am able to embrace and love both sides of my family. But, what really annoys me is when people assume because I am lighter than the average black/mixed race person that I am white. Please don’t ever assume anybodies ethnic background. Your skin doesn’t have to be a certain shade, or you don’t have to have similar features to other people. You are who you are and its the DNA that runs through your blood.
You Might Also Like: 6 Things You Might Not Know About Me
I KNOW THE QUEEN
This is probably one of the funniest assumptions I have ever gotten in my life. I remember this memory so clearly and it was when I went to America for the first time. I flew there to see my best friend and she took me to some houses after church to meet with some families. And there were 6 kids, just talking to me and getting to know me. Obviously my accent was so weird to them, they began asking me questions about being British.
One of them asked me what we called teeth in England, and I was pleased to tell them we call them teeth. And they continued to do this about all the ENGLISH words they knew. I did remind them that they speak English, so we used alot of the same words. Then one of the kids asked me if the Queen was my Aunt. After laughing for 5 minutes I obviously told them no. But I just thought it was so funny. I have never in my life even seen or met the Queen of England. Yet these little kids just assumed that she was related to me. Im guessing because England is so small in comparison to the US. They just assumed we all know each other.
You Might Also Like: Life is Not A Race Friend
What are some stereotypical assumptions people have of you? I’d love to read them in the comments.
Thanks Shelly for tagging me to do this. It was really interesting to think about some of the assumptions people might have of me. If you want to, please do this tag too. But remember to tag Shelly as she is the original post idea for this!
olivialucieblake.com 
Love this post Olivia. I can relate to your ‘tea’ comment. I’m Scottish so people assume I like whisky, porridge … cant stand either. The one thing that got me was while living in France for a year, I was told it was OK for me to get drunk as that’s what the British do.
LikeLike
Hahahaha thats so funny! And really not all of us like to drink! Me included.
LikeLike
Wait… you don’t know the Queen? Are you even British? Oh wait… you’re not British… but you are? 😅 Loved this post! It had me in giggles! I’l legit going to say “‘Ello love” to every British person I meet going forward!
Thanks for writing the post 😂
LikeLike
🤣 if you start saying ello love to me I will end our friendship
LikeLike
Ello love. What? You don’t know the Queen? When I moved to Canada from England, everyone assumed I was from London. They didn’t believe me when I told them I had never even visited London.
LikeLike
Oh goodness yes. This is so annoying 🤣 Whenever I am in the US I get asked if I’m from London and I’m like no. I am not lol
LikeLike
Because I’m from Zimbabwe I must know this person from Angola because it’s also in Africa.. Also why am I white if I’m from an African country
LikeLike
It really comes down to ignorance doesn’t it?!
LikeLike
Indeed ☺️
LikeLike
💜 Hmmm; “assumptions” about me as an Ascension Assistant, a Philosopher and Writer 🤔 ?
He doesn’t THINK!!! Enough He THINKS!!! Too Much
He THINKS!!! He Knows EveryThing He THINKS!!! He Knows NoThing
He is so very RUDE!!! He is so Polite
…💛💚💙…
LikeLike
That you know the queen 😂👌 gosh it must be tricky for you not being a tea or coffee drinker in England 😛 thanks for another great post!
LikeLike
I get judged alot for it 🤣
LikeLike
My (English) Dad hates tea as well. It’s a tough cross to bear!
LikeLike
One of them asked me what we called teeth in England, and I was pleased to tell them we call them teeth.😂😂 Yeah stereotypes are the worst
LikeLike
Hahaha yep they are!
LikeLike
Ello love 😛😛😂😂
So you don’t know queen???!😕😕😕😕 disappointed😂😂😂
LikeLike
So sorry to disappoint you 🤣
LikeLike
It’s such a small country I’m surprised you don’t bump into her weekly in Lidl. I do love tea though.
LikeLike
Hahaha I cant even imagine what that would be like. Bumping into the queen whilst down the fruit and veg isle!
LikeLike
So true many people make many assumptions of people. I’m American and in college I was in a group project with a girl from Jamaica and she made many assumptions of Americans and said things that could be considered offensive. I just quietly listen and thought about all of the assumptions someone could have of America and Americans.
LikeLike
I have to agree that from the outside looking in, there are so many stereotypes for Americans. And there are so many about British people too. I would have told her to stop if that was me🤣
LikeLike
Oh my goodness! This was great 😂. As a tea lover, I’m a little saddened that you hate tea but we’re all different. Especially loved the whole ‘related to the Queen’ bit.
LikeLike
I know! I really wish I liked it but, I just cant!
LikeLike
Great read! I enjoyed reading that. 😁. As for responding in kind, I’d have to say my only real stereotypical comment I’ve gotten, almost every time I tell someone I’m Dutch is, “Do you wear/have those clogs? Wooden shoe things?” 😂 To which I have to reply that I Do have them but I don’t wear them. 🙄. I’ve also heard the expression, “Wooden shoes, wooden head, wooden listen”. Or something like that. 🙄😴
LikeLike
I really think it comes down to ignorance. Alot of people don’t take the time to actually learn about other cultures and it shows in their ignorant questions. Because surely, they should know not every Dutch person wears clogs. And they should know all British people don’t drink tea! But we fail to take the time to learn about others
LikeLike
BAHAHAHAH ITS THE QUEEN ONE FOR ME-
LikeLike
Know the Queen is so funny😂😂A lot of people think as brits we know the Queen or worse related to her😂
You never drank tea?! Olivia, tea is my favourite thing in the world, although I have started to like it around late teens but for sure used “Elo love” once in a while😂😂
I love this, thanks for sharing xx
LikeLike
Gasp! Avid tea lover here. 🙂 Nonetheless, stereotypes are unfortunately unavoidable. It’s just as how people assume all Jamaicans know or have met either Bob Marley or Usain Bolt, smoke weed or have locks. It’s crazy.
LikeLike
Wonderful article.. yes.. different versions of you exist in the mind those who meet you.. and you can’t change it.. 🙂
LikeLike
Love this post. Stereotypes are so annoying and places everyone in a box. We definitely need to be mindful of this habit. Thanks for sharing
I can’t believe they thought u knew the queen. It’s like asking if they know the president.
LikeLike
These are hysterical! 💕
LikeLike