The topic of stereotypes is an endlessly fascinating one for me. When I was an ESL teacher, especially here in Perth when I would have a class full of different nationalities, it was so interesting to observe which aspects of a stereotype had some basis in reality and which didn’t.
This episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast made me particularly thoughtful (so I guess that’s good!) and since I was preparing it shortly after the Trump victory in the United States then hearing from people like Lola about her struggle against stereotypes of African women seemed particularly poignant.
And I still firmly (idealistically) believe that if we all took the opportunity to travel as much as we could then all the negative stereotypes would be broken down and we could all live happily ever after. Right??
Show notes: Episode 34 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast
Travel and Stereotypes
Stereotypes of people by nationality are rife in the world, and come up all the time when we travel. In Episode 34 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with three people of different nationalities about their experiences with stereotypes on their travels.
Jeremy Kloberdanz of The Life Bohemian has an interesting story to tell about an immigrant man he and his wife met while travelling around Italy; a man who wasn’t what he seemed.
Lola Akinmade Åkerström, a Nigerian travel photographer living and working in Sweden, has a lot to say about pushing back against stereotypes and has a lot of wisdom to impart about sharing your own culture with others as well as learning about theirs.
New Zealander Tom Parson of The Lego Backpacker also has some wise words about stereotypes and speaks about his experiences when working in China in the management of a furniture design factory.
Links:
- Join our Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group
- Episode 4 on Smashing Stereotypes
- Jeremy and Katie Kloberdanz of The Life Bohemian website
- The Life Bohemian Podcast
- Lola’s site Geotraveler’s Niche
- Lola’s post about breaking down stereotypes on Women on the Road
- Tom Parson of The Lego Backpacker on Instagram
- Lego Backpacker website coming soon
You might also like:
The Thoughtful Travel Podcast: Episode 7 – Unexpected Travel Friends (and Monks on Facebook)
Are All Aussies Tanned and Tall? – Episode 27 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast
Fears and Freaking Out Before You Travel – Episode 39 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast
Travel in Africa – Episode 80 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast
Hi Amanda,
Wow, this was a great podcast!! You always approach your topics with such thought and dig deeper than what I often see around other blogs/podcasts.
I’ve heard Lola interviewed on a photography webinar recently so it was a lovely surprise to “meet” her here again!!
Thank you Kati!! So many lovely compliments, I’m flattered (but yes this is what I really try to do). Lola is fabulous – hope you get to meet her in real life sometime too. She’s such a delightful, genuine and enthusiastic-for-life person.
I must look her up because I’m sure she’d have a most interesting story! I cannot imagine what it’s like living in Sweden when you’re from Nigeria.