[...]
As that old adage goes: "Remember, no matter how good you are at whatever you do, there will always be some Asian kid out there who does it better."
...Much as I'd like to really poke this in-depth (as well as how generalizing this kind of comparison goes >_> [also I'm Asian btw :v]), I lack time and must use brevity.
...
Stop stereotyping the concept of a prodigy/gifted child please. Or casually thinking that 'brain development//biological premises = a difference between people).
Honestly I've always seen this more as a stereotype of the hard workers than necessarily the gifted. [...]
If anything it's a stereotype that asians are more often hard workers than americans are.
(Which of course doesn't address the fact that stereotypes are often true. Studies have found tha[...]).
* Tiruin giggles :3 (and also loves the info! Them extremes are soooo...extreme o_o)
Alrighty, let's broaden that field of knowledge there!
Let's see...the modern definition of a stereotype is "a general grouping of beliefs about a particular entity"--though following seminal data (ie bottom half of page 3, PDF [.edu] link by i2amroy), albeit pertaining to the general usage of stereotype rather than 'stereotype in the context of group or cultural groupings'.
Now why it is often true, in very short terms, is because it is based on a general perception and concept formation--emphasis on the word "General". It is not holistically true regarding each and every individual, in terms of complete definition. It contains the Grain of Truth (...like a needle in a haystack, its
where this darn grain is!): a Concept is an idea attributed towards a particular notion or entity which reflects how that idea was created (usually by natural observation--our common way of deriving information from our surroundings). What's being described is attitude--and not...y'know, racial differences, for example above when comparing *West vs East...and it also differs
where in the East you're talking about.*Fun note: 'West' and 'East' come from the Europe-centric Point of View. With reference to ancient navigation and the central area of sciences. (This may be incomplete because my memory is fuzzy.)
Now why its said that 'Stereotypes aren't true and should be avoided in all cases', one should
be very aware what specific words they use in describing such things (cuz words = meaning translated into tangible form and all that).
Is because that kind of saying describes the process of concluding.
Especially if you utilize comparisons or comparatives to forward a very similar statement. (ie 'All birds have feathers' versus 'All birds can fly' . . .)
In a practical way: Stereotypes depend on context for their 'truth, proof and validity', because the grouping is not the root of deriving information from--what is observed and characterized (the context) is the root of the information. Think of it like the superficial surface of the ocean..and the depths being a deduction from general to specifics.