Breaking ASEAN Stereotypes
Southeast Asians often stereotype one another, with common phrases including:
- Singaporeans are too strict
- Malaysians are too soft
- Filipinos are too noisy
- Thais are too easygoing
Despite the goal of ASEAN unity, these stereotypes persist in everyday life, in classrooms, and online.
The region may preach “one community,” but on the streets, in classrooms and online, the divides often run deeper than the slogans suggest.
As ASEAN leaders gather for the 47th ASEAN Summit, the question of how well Southeast Asians truly understand one another remains.
Luo Chen Jun, a former civil servant from Singapore, has noticed that people often see his country first when participating in regional exchanges.
Author's summary: ASEAN unity is threatened by lingering stereotypes.