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Decorating my New Home

I hate stereotypes…

But every now and then they ring true! Last night I went to watch the Rangers’ game at some friends’ apartment, and I ended up falling asleep on the couch. When I looked for breakfast this morning, do you know what I found in the guys’ fridge?

A lot of beer.

And not much else! They also have a pinball machine in their living room. As Chandler Bing might say, “Could it be more of a bachelor pad?” (Although I must admit… I kinda want a pinball machine for my new place now.)

The moving process is going along well. I think we’re finally done with the boring part of unpacking boxes, which means we get to focus on more fun things, like decorating. It’s always difficult for me to imagine how “big” decorations—wallpaper, furniture, curtains, etc.—will look in a room, but I love adding little touches of flair.

red pepper dishes

For the kitchen, I’m bringing back all the red pepper stuff I bought the last time I lived on my own. My roommate says that as long as I continue to make desserts and give her samples, she couldn’t care less what I do to decorate the kitchen!

Foodie Decorating:

Later today, I get to put my decorating skills to another use. My friend is a kindergarten teacher, and she asked if I’d like to make a special treat for her kids’ Halloween party. She still raves about last year’s Funfetti Blondies. I’m not sure what I want to make. Cupcakes? Cookies? Definitely something with chocolate.

bananabite

Maybe Chocolate-Chip Banana Bites.

But the banana part probably wouldn’t hold up very well, so I’m trying to brainstorm something else to put in the middle of the mini cookies. Ideally, I’d like to tie the dessert in to Halloween, too. Maybe spider cookies? With pretzel legs… Or maybe I should abandon the cookie idea and just go with cupcakes. Kids seem to love cupcakes above all else.

Do you think stereotypes are sometimes true?

I think that some are based on truth. Like Asians being smart? I’ve been blessed to know many amazing Asian friends, especially when I lived in China, and they are all very smart. My one friend—who ended up at MIT and now works for the government—actually fell asleep during the English AP test and still got a 5! (EDIT: Please read my responses to some of the comments below. Your comments made me realize that my words above–although meant as a compliment–were misguided.)

However, I don’t understand other stereotypes at all. I think the “Mexicans are lazy” stereotype is the most ridiculous and offensive one out there, because I have never met a more hard-working ethnic group. And I would like to go back in time and clock the person who first uttered the phrase, “You hit/throw/run like a girl.”

And now, since I know you’ve all been wondering only one thing throughout this entire post, I’ll answer the important question: No, I did not have beer for breakfast Winking smile. I managed to find an apple hiding in my friends’ kitchen, to tide me over until I drove home.

pumpkin bread bowl

Then I threw together my favorite Pumpkin Breakfast Cereal.

How lovely to see a well-stocked fridge!

Published on October 25, 2011

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127 Comments

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  1. Ashley O. @ The Vegetable Life says

    Hahaha if I were not in control, my husband would definetly have a pinball machine in our living room and only beer in the fridge. It’s a good thing I am there to load up on the fruits and veggies (and of course to decorate with a little more style than a pinball machine and college drinking posters! Haha)

  2. Katie @ Peace Love and Oats says

    I’d say abandon the cookie idea… those look like they’d fall apart in kindergartners’ hands. Something not so messy would be key. And I definitely think stereotypes are somewhat true, they have to come from somewhere! Although I’ve actually never heard the one about mexicans being lazy… that doesn’t make sense.

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Ooh good point. Maybe something so “gourmet” as cookie bites would be a bad idea for little kids!
      And unfortunately, you hear that stereotype a lot in Texas. I really don’t get it either, and it’s disgustingly untrue!

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Oh lol I fell asleep AFTER the game… I’m a Rangers’ fan, so it was way too intense to fall asleep during the game ;). (I never thought I’d use “intense” and “baseball game” in the same sentence… usually you’re right: they’re very slow!)

      • Brittany *Sparkles* says

        haha oh dear – welp! I just have been so tired after work lately.. I guess I’m a terrible fan! Next time I’ll need to whip up some of your desserts in hopes they’ll give me a mini burst of energy to make it through the whole game. At least the internet makes it easy to catch up on what I missed!

  3. Liz says

    Cupcakes are always a win for kindergartners. Be careful which ingredients you use in whatever you make, though; lots of kids have random allergies, especially to nuts.

    I think this week I’m going to pick up a can of pumpkin. I’ve waited too long to try your pumpkin recipes!

  4. Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count says

    It’s always such fun settling into a new place. Can’t wait to hear that you’re all settled. I LOVE the chili pepper decor! Where did you find it all?! We’re moving to New Mexico and I NEED that…Well maybe not the dachshund…but everything else!! Good luck!

  5. katie @KatieDid says

    Oh my gosh I loveee your kitchen decorations, absolutely adorable! Decorating is so much fun albeit expensive. And I’m sure your roommate is loving being the exclusive taste tester for your creations. Can’t say I would mind either.

  6. Vanessa N says

    Stereotypes do typically stem from somewhere, however, they almost always have a negative effect on the person being stereotyped. Even though the “all Asians are smart” sounds like a “positive”, it can set unrealistic expectations for Asians. Teachers may have different expectations of Asian children and grade/teach/treat them accordingly. Asian children may grow up with more stress because they are aware that they are expected to be the smartest in the class. Stereotyping is usually all-around bad.

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Wow, I never thought about it that way! You are so right, and what you wrote makes perfect sense. Thanks for opening my eyes… and on that note, you made me think about the fact that I guess even positive stereotypes also just reinforce ethnic differences, when really we should be treating people as individuals.

      • Maya says

        I agree with the high standards for Asian- the Glee “Asian F” episode anyone??

        I think another reason we have stereotypes about the intelligence levels of certain ethnic groups is because it’s usually a certain type that come here. My family is Indian, and when I went there and talked about how smart Indian kids are, my relatives called it “The Brain Drain” and said it’s because the smartest ones go to America to work or study. I’m sure if you took a random sample of people actually living in a country, there wouldn’t be huge differences between cultures. I guess a lot of the immigrants that come here are very ambitious and hard working, and expect their children to be as well.

    • Kelly says

      I agree. I also think that sometimes human beings can have selective observation skills and tend to notice things that reinforce stereotypes and our worldview. For example, along the lines of the Asian comment, that could have more to do with your circle of friends than ethnicity alone. For example, in college I had a lot of smart Asian friends, but I went to a private college and being a bit of a dork, most of my friends were the types who worked and studied hard. Because it is commonly assumed that Asians are smart you could have drawn that conclusion from this scenario, but it would be weird to have not thought the same thing about the white kids I was also friends with because they were in the same boat. I think you just don’t notice it as much because it doesn’t jive with the stereotype. It’s the same way that sometimes things can be a self-fulfilling prophecy because people can selectively view things that reinforces their POV and seemingly not notice the rest.

      I think the quote “We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.” is one of my favorite related sayings. Yes, you could say that sometimes, almost anything is true, but does that mean stereotypes are still helpful, I would argue not.

      That said, I also feel like this is hard issue for me to talk about as a white women because to be honest, most of the stereotypes that might have been made about me (though it seems like there are not as many as with other races) have sometimes been to my advantage. Even though I can try to guess what it might have been like to grow up as an ethnicity different than my own.

  7. Kathy says

    Hey what if you took those little banana chip cookies and instead of the banana, put some type of orange frosting in the middle. Or some type of vegan marshmallow or peanut butter goo in the middle and roll them in chips so they stick to the gooey middle. You’re a creative cookie, so I’m sure you’ll think of something yummy

  8. Emily Zimmerman says

    Yeah, being a minority and half Asian, I am not a fan of racial and/or gender stereotypes. People should be judged individually and not grouped into one category.

  9. Erin says

    I have an idea of something fun and halloween-y for the kids. Make your hot cocoa fudge babies and roll them into smaller balls for your “spider. Then get black licorice, pull apart the strings, but them into smaller pieces and stick them as “legs” onto your fudge babies. Just an idea. 🙂

  10. Bianca- Vegan Crunk says

    Oooh, I love all your pepper stuff! Especially the little weiner dog. Also, dude’s fridges make me crazy. I’m dog sitting for a friend right now, a gay dude who is very much a straight-dude-like bachelor, and his fridge is filled with nothing more than Diet Mountain Dew and cheese. Lots and lots of cheese. How do people live like that?! It makes me want to take him grocery shopping and teach him how to properly stock a pantry and fridge.

  11. Char @ www.charskitchen.ca says

    mmmmm I still have to try your pumpkin cereal 🙂

    I have NEVER heard the stereotype that Mexicans are lazy! I’ve always thought of them as hard-working individuals. I also know a lot of people who came to Canada from the Phillipines to look for work, & they are the hardest workers ever. Maybe these are stereotypes, but I have much respect for both cultures. I can’t imagine either of them being called ‘lazy.’

  12. Kit-Kat says

    At least the Rangers won lastnight (yay!). Beer for breakfast? Yuck!
    I think you should make the cookies, but instead of using banana as the filling, fill the middle with orange colored frosting. Another idea is to make both regular chocolate-chip cookie sandwhiches and cocoa chocolate-chip sandwhich cookies.
    If that does not sound appealing, you could make chocolate cocoa cupcakes as well as spice cupcakes (mmmmm, nutmeg!) and frost them to look Halloweenie. Just ideas!
    Have you ever thought of making sugar cookie wafer cookies to look like witches’ fingers, and then bring your famouse cookie-dough dip for dipping? That would be another good idea!

  13. Katherine says

    I hear ya! i love decorating my new apartment.
    Speaking of the cookies to bring to the kiddos, I am going on a road trip this weekend with a bunch of my friends (college age girls and goys) and I wanted to bring some cookies that I ( as a vegan) can eat and everyone else can enjoy, as well! any suggestions? or are they all amazing? haha 🙂 thanks!

  14. t says

    katie, i know you meant well, but please dont perpetuate the model minority stereotype. there are lots of south asians and east asians without the same economic and academic opportunities earlier waves of immigrants came here with; these are refugees or first generations struggling to get by. If you use the logic that asians really are smart, then what makes it different from saying mexicans are lazy? same logic.

    also, didnt you live in various areas of asia growing up? you’re telling me that asians are inherently smart, or that there is cultural value for this? i’m really disappointed by this off-handed comment, and won’t be returning.

    • Liz says

      Wow, seriously? If I were CCK, I sure wouldn’t be sad that you weren’t coming back! I mean, you leave this totally rude and off base comment, and then you say you will never return so you don’t even give her a chance to respond to your comment? I think I speak for more than just myself when I say we’ll be glad to be rid of your close mindedness!

    • Anonymous says

      Honey, I think you need to stop LOOKING for things to take offense to. Katie’s comments were obviously not meant to be malicious, and so your hostile tone is completely out of place. If you disagree with her, that’s one thing, but to be so hostile is something I personally find offensive.

      As an Asian-American, myself, I took no offense to Katie’s post, only to your accusatory comment.

      • Kelly says

        I didn’t take her comment to be malicious at all, but then again that is probably one of the challenges with the written word is that it’s open to interpretation somewhat so I think it is reasonable that sometimes, someone might interpret something as more hurtful as the original author (blogger or commenter) meant to.

        I’m a little sad that commenters could so quickly rally against someone you don’t know who is expressing a dissenting opinion. Given this is a hot button topic and Katie herself asked for discussion, I’m sure she realized that some people would get a bit worked up and that some would share dissenting opinions.

        While it hasn’t happened here, I’ve seen many blogs where whenever a commenter disagrees people jump to tell them they should stop reading. It makes me sad because while I may like individual bloggers and their content overall, it in no way means I have to agree with everything they say.

        I guess my end point is, if you want other commenters to give Katie more of the benefit of the doubt it might be more productive to take the same tone toward said commenter as well.

    • Anonymous says

      I think Katie phrased her original post perfectly, and – while I respect her response to your comment – I am relieved she didn’t modify what she originally said. I grew up in a community that was predominantly Asian, and there were definitely obvious cultural differences between my Chinese peers’ parents’ expectations and my white peers’ expectations. And that’s because of the parents, not because the rest of us judged them. Everyone gets stereotyped, even white people, and anyone who can’t take a demographic-wide compliment from an educated, cultured girl (Katie) needs to mature a little bit.

  15. bitt says

    As an elementary teacher I will have to agree that cupcakes are above all else, and if that’s what she ordered she may have already promised them to the kids. Kids hate broken promises. I wish they liked cupcakes less, but well, they don’t. You could do mini cupcakes. Orange with brown frosting would be cute.

  16. Becky @ Skinnyfat Girls says

    I don’t know what you’re talking about; beer is the best vegan way to start the day! At least, that’s probably what the guys think… 😉

  17. Moni'sMeals says

    I say what kid would not love those banana cookie treats!!…just do not meantion the word “Healthy” or “organic” and they will love it, otherwise you are screwed…haha! when You tell a kid it is health food, even if it is say “organic” ketchup, they usually do not want the ketchup then, this is all from experience!!

  18. carly says

    thanks for your comment about “mexicans being lazy” being false – i wholeheartedly agree. i live in mexico and people here work harder than in any other country i’ve visited or lived in. their work week is monday through saturday and most work from early morning until late at night. the economy is awful here, but rarely do you see something begging on the street – instead you’ll have people eager to do some service for money (wash your car, sell you candy, etc), literally inventing jobs for themselves since the real jobs don’t exist here. that is the opposite of lazy.

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Same in Texas! I admire their work ethic SO much and it’s offensive to me whenever I hear someone use that stereotype. I can’t even imagine how offensive it must be to people of that race, and how much it must anger them.

      • Anon says

        are you KIDDING me!? This is hands down the most patronising, small minded blog post and set of comments ever. ugh. YOU ARE BEING OFFENSIVE BY JUDGING PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR ETHNICITY whether it is a positive or negative judgment. To say “ohh, Mexicans are so hard working” is disgusting, condescending and makes me worry that there are so many people that don’t realise the damage they can do with mindsets like this.

        stereotypes = racism. ergo your post = racist.

          • Katie says

            I think you are being ignorant by declaring that discussing stereotypes is racist.
            Katie did not say she beleived in them. She was simply talking about stereotypes exist.
            How is saying mexicans are hardworking is offensive? Who doesn’t want to be hardworking?
            Get over yourself and take your patronizing attitude elsewhere.

          • Katie says

            I realize that depicting any ethinic group in a certain way can be offensive, whether it be in a positive or negative light. I apologize to anyone I offended by my comment.

  19. Hannah says

    I know you decided that cookies were too messy for the kids, but even if you just make them for you maybe banana butter would be a good substitute for the banana in the middle of the cookies – or just peanut butter, or almost any other nut butter really. Or maybe make pb and j with the cookies.

  20. Juliane says

    Since I am a vegan in Paris I can tell you that the stereotype of French loving their meet and butter is absolutely true! A vegan’s nightmare but the city makes up for it!

  21. J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says

    The beer wouldn’t have been a complete breakfast without cold leftover pizza. Hehe

    I don’t get that stereotype about Mexicans, either!! That makes no sense whatsoever. Every Mexican I know works very, very hard. I can’t say the same about every American I know, though… :/ not to encourage stereotyping, but every Chinese person I have known works very hard, too. I think far too many Americans are spoiled and lazy and addicted to entitlements of all kinds! There. I said it. 🙂

  22. Brittany says

    Falling asleep in the middle of a test and still getting a 5? That is wild! haha. So many guys have tons of beer in the fridge. Nothing too surprising 😉

  23. Amber K says

    I think stereotypes stem from a place of truth. I think the “Mexicans are lazy” is because of the siesta. As Americans we just can’t seem to understand that there is a time to just chill and still be able to get your work done. We are so go, go, go I just don’t think we can fathom it! Even though people in other countries tend to get way more done than we do because they aren’t so darn stressed all the time.

  24. Cara @ EAT. PRAY. RUN. says

    I don’t understand how anyone eats breakfast on the go every morning! Stereotype or not I find it way more common for young professional men to do! So many of them throw pop-tarts in the toaster at work and all I can think about is how much they are missing out on a bowl of delcious pumpkin oats in the morning 😉

    Good luck with the decorating – always challenging BUT exciting too!

    • Nathalie says

      I totally fall into the missing-out category X< Even though I'm a firm believer in Katie's Delicious Breakfasts, I usually don't have time to make one around getting my run in before work (ergo, I am trying to up my running speed). So I end up having an onigiri (Japanese-style rice ball, wrapped in nori seaweed, with fillings) at my desk at work. I tried bringing my oatmeal to work, but that didn't go over well with my boss X_x

      I have to agree about with the general consensus that stereotypes, while based on a grain of truth, do more harm than good. BUT, I can tell you that stereotypes here in Japan are MUCH more strongly embedded, practically official "common knowledge", in society. Like, "Foreigners can't speak Japanese." You wouldn't believe the reactions I get when I start speaking Japanese. It's like people are trying to figure out how I'm trying to punk them. Lulz.

  25. Kaitlyn@TheTieDyeFIles says

    Oh gosh I’m terrible at decorating!! I still barely have anything in my room and I’ve lived in it for 6 months.

    I hate the idea of stereotypes, especially as a vegan because I know people stereotype ME and I hate it! I do love the Chandler reference, he was always my favorite 🙂

  26. AmandaRunsNY says

    I vote for cupcakes for the kids!

    I do not believe in stereotypes at all. There are always going to be exceptions to the rule. But boys left to their own devises, never seem to have well stocked fridges (except my college friend who always had enough to make a home cooked meal that would rival my mom’s cooking – see there’s the exception!)

  27. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says

    Have fun decorating! Moving into a new place and decorating it is the most rewarding part of moving for me, for sure! Can’t wait to see what you come up with.

    And how sweet that you want to help your kindergarten teacher friend and her little students out. They’ll love whatever you make 🙂

    • Melissa says

      No. That’s called “different personalities” NOT related to race.
      What is possibly related to is cultural things, socioeconomic statuses and social mores.

      Your comment was really quite insensitive and offensive, IMO.
      There are POC who are jerks, snotty, rude or dress or act certain ways. There are white folks who do the same. Individuals with certain traits that are not due merely to their race.

      I’ll bet if you did a look around certain neighborhoods where the races were mixed but the median income, education and resources were comparable, you’d find very similar sorts of issues. It’s not a race issue, it’s a social one. There is a definite culture that evolves in places where education is less available, people have less resources and the struggle to survive is harder. That crosses all racial boundaries.

      Apologies to fellow readers if I’m muddling something and inadvertently sounding classist. I just feel like a lot of things pinned on POC as being race related are actually related to education and a lack of resources available in certain communities.

        • Emily says

          From the context, I’m guessing the acronym stands for people of color. And again, although my attempts at pointing out fallacies littering these blogs comments are most likely futile and bordering on obsessive, I think the issue at hand is the simplistic correlation attributing cultural affectations to racial categories. Of course there are commonalities among in-groups. I don’t think this is a point anyone would argue. There is a strong correlation between lower socioeconomic status and race, which stems from a government built on a constitution of racist and gendered exclusion. The slow progress we have made as a country has in no way ameliorated this fact, or disembedded social discrimination that very much so still exists today. It is backwards to place blame on individuals that “fulfill their own damn stereotype” without fully understanding the intricate historical context within which these stereotypes are created. Again, basing your analysis of race and class issues on your “observation so far” is a reductionist trajectory that I hope you will reconsider. I suspect you are still in high school, and I will leave with the benefit of the doubt that as you mature, your thoughts will continue to develop.

          • Mary says

            I agree with everything Emily said. I see from your blog that you are 15 years old, so I just want to let you know that comments like that are extremely offensive and actually assist in perpetuating the stereotypes like the ones you speak of. Again, you’re young, so you will likely (& hopefully) see the error in your reasoning as you age & become more experienced.

        • cindylu says

          Frankly, you’re perpetuating some stereotypes with your non-apology, your rush to mention that you do have a (emphasis on the singular here) black friend or family member, and misguided use of the word “ghetto” and adjective for poor people’s behavior. Really, how do you define that word? I’m curious.

          I hope you can begin to see how your observations can be truly limited. If you really do want to become “more worldly” I’d read through the rest of this comment thread are there are some people who have much more intelligent thoughts on the topic of stereotypes.

          • Katie @Nutrition In A Peanut Shell says

            I’m really sorry to everyone I upset with this comment. It really was not intended to offend anyone. I’m not quite sure how my non-apology (do white people not apologize?) perpetuates a stereotype. I do realize mentioning I have a black family member can sort of perpetuate a stereotype though. I mentioned it only to emphasize that I’m really not racist (As everyone is making me out to be.)

            I still don’t believe you fully understood what I was trying to say (to my own fault.) It’s the select few people who fulfill the stereotype that perpetuate it. Perhaps choosing “POC” as an example was a poor choice. Would you have been less offended if I had said the blondes who act stupid are the ones who perpetuate the “dumb blonde” stereotype?

            I don’t think that uneducated people are ghetto, or anything else people out there are throwing out.

            Again, I’m really sorry I offended anyone. It wasn’t my intent. My intent was only to share my opinion, which, under the amendments, I am allowed to have 🙂

    • Miranda says

      Katie, I think you are awesome! I totally agree with you. I’m sure there are lots of people who feel the same way you do, but don’t have the balls to say it!

  28. Alexis says

    Hi Katie,

    congrats on the new apartment and on the decorating fun.

    I think your question about stereotypes is a super important one. We all need to stop and ask ourselves if our beliefs about a group are open minded, or if they are unconsciously colored by unfair stereotypes. I think even stereotypes that seem positive, like asians being smart are worrisome. The genetic component of race is largely discredited (as in, there is just as much genetic variety within one race as across multiple races), so Asian’s being genetically smarter is not true. And “Asians” is just too big a group to generalize too much about culturally. If a person meets an Asian with the automatic thought “this person is smart”, it clouds their ability to really see the person for how they are.

    Anyway, I think about this stuff a lot… I’m getting a master’s degree in European Studies, focusing on immigration in/to Europe, so thinking about group stereotypes and how they affect the reception of immigrants consumes a large part of my week.

    As does reading your recipes, and thinking about which chocolate goodness I’m going to make next.

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Thanks for such an insightful comment.

      Thanks to you (and a few other commenters), I realize that my “Asians are smart” generalization is misguided. Obviously, I meant it as a compliment, but as someone (Vanessa) pointed out, the stereotype puts a lot of pressure on Asian children to live up to these standards. Plus, as you and someone else pointed out, we should look at people as individuals. I’m actually really glad I included that sentence in my post, because your comments definitely changed my views on the matter.

    • Rebecka says

      Alexis. The way you use the word “race” makes me feel very uncomfortable.

      When you say “there is just as much genetic variety within one race as across multiple races” I wonder how you would define race? Is race the color of your skin, the shape of your nose, the region in which you or your parents was born? When I read this two things come to mind:
      – When we start dividing people into groups (“races”), we will inevitably also create a hierarchy of those groups. Some will be thought of as less than others, and in the long run this legitimiz(s?)es discrimination of those groups.
      – People attributed with a “race” or “ethnicity” are never the people holding the power. White people are rarely thought of as having a “race” or “ehtnicity” in the way that non-whites are. Whiteness is very invisible and naturalised, as whiteness is currently the norm.

      What matters here is that we have to see beyond the stereotype/”race”/color/shape-of-nose and think about who benefits from the creation of these stereotypes. Who gets “raced”? Who gets “stereotyped”? Who is never thought of as having a “race”? Who transcends stereotyping? Essentially this creation of difference between people has to do with power, and the people holdign the power is somehow thought of as “natural” or “invisible” in terms of “race” and “ethnicity”.

      So think twice before stereotyping, you’re not only limiting the person you stereotype but also supporting systems that eventually create discrimination and racism.
      (For reference, see Richard Dyer’s “White”)

  29. Kathy says

    Sometimes, I do think stereotypes are true! I like the ‘Asians are smart’ one (mostly because I’m Asian, haha ^^) but one I don’t like is that “Mexicans are poor”. I had a Mexican friend who is actually rich(-ish)! She can afford three pairs of $120 shoes, and one or two North Faces and other stuff. The only thing is, is that she lives in an apartment.

  30. Emily says

    First off – thanks for all your delicious recipes. I’ve read your blog for a while, but never felt the need to comment. The controversial subject of stereotyping ultimately piqued my interest.

    I agree with what many of the above commenters have said about being wary of “positive” stereotyping as well. Any blanket statement about a specific “race” or “ethnicity” (quite loaded terms in and of themselves) can come across as offensive, regardless of the intention. Especially in such a globalized, internet accessible world, crosscultural interactions and physical migration problematize the neat culture categories we find it easier in which to view the world.

    I think it’s also important to think critically about the historical and especially political context within which stereotypes are created, reinforced, and perpetuated. Discriminatory government policies would not be effective or gain support without the common practice of dehumanizing the “other.” Likewise, the “model minority” stereotype ascribed to Asians in America is often used as justification for the mentality that all immigrants should be able to pull themselves up from their bootstraps and achieve the “American dream.” This perspective does not take into account specific immigration policies, and the fact that the stereotype is built around a small population of East Asian immigrants to the US that came with preexisting higher education and wealth.

    The subject matter is obviously heavy and elicits quite a varying response. I think that the more interesting question is not whether or not we believe a stereotype to be true, but how and why we have stereotypes at all?

    • odorunara says

      Like Emily, I’ve also been reading but haven’t commented much. Emily is absolutely right: Positive stereotypes are still stereotypes. Negative stereotypes are still stereotypes.

      You seem to be conflating physical sex with cultural gender expectations as well as the social construct of race with cultural values associated with ethnic identity.

      Above all things, remember that sex and ethnicity do not determine a person’s intelligence, skills, interests, or personality. The way in which cultural norms surrounding sex (gender roles, gender norms) and ethnicity (cultural values in one’s community and family) interact with one on a societal, institutional, and individual level mold us and effect our perceptions of ourselves and others’ perception of us.

      • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

        Thanks so much for all the info. I hope you did see my comments above that I do realize my off-the-cuff remarks were misguided. I really do appreciate the time you (and others) took, and it opened my eyes. Now, when I talk about my smart “Asian friend” I will only refer to her as my “smart friend”! She is an individual, and I am sorry for my generalizations.

        (Also, I had to take your links out, because my wordpress account marks many-link comments as spam. But I did receive them all :).)

        • odorunara says

          Yeah, I’ve noticed that with leaving links on blogs. Anyway, it might help to update the post a bit. After I wrote this, I read all the comments, and it seems like more will keep coming.

          Sociological Images is pretty much the best blog ever, even though the topics they post about will make you headdesk a bit (racist Halloween costumes, sexism in the media, etc.)

          Anyway, hope you enjoy the links (ABC is an especially witty and moving comic) and carry on with the chocolate and oatmeal!

  31. Clair says

    Have you ever read Malcolm Gladwell? He contends that at least part of the Asian “smart” stereotype is a result of a) an intense educational system and high value of family honor, and b) a language structure that promotes a unique way of thinking about things like numbers. But that’s a good stereotype anyway. =)

    I guess all stereotypes have their “root,” but they’re certainly not all fair. Consider the stereotype of women drivers. Chances are, this was either projected onto women to make men feel better about letting them drive…or that women were actually bad drivers due to a long history of being excluded from mechanical activities. Unfair either way.

    I think the best thing to strive for is to acknowledge those roots, but don’t apply those stereotypes to ANYONE you meet. Every individual should have the opportunity to be their own person.

  32. Melissa says

    Oh please do some Halloween desserts! I keep seeing those cute spider cupcakes that are essentially a cupcake with pocky stick legs and I’m certain you could make a healthier version of that! Do it CCK!

  33. An observer says

    Oh Katie,

    Reading this, I was struck by two things:

    1. People need to stop being so easily offended. Not just here on your blog, but in the world in general. It seems like someone gets offended at ANYthing these days, to the point where people are afraid to speak! Lighten up, people. Take a joke, have some compassion, and realize that people are meant to speak what’s on their mind, without having to worry about censoring every single syllable first!

    2. I am so impressed with how you handled the comments. Most people, when told they were wrong, will get defensive and angry and will respond in a negative manner. But you were gracious and courteous and actually admitted you might have been in error. I have always admired your blog, but I now think even MORE highly of you, if that’s even possible.

    • Melissa says

      Observer,

      Very few people here responded to Katie in a way that was aggressive or insulting. Most just very respectfully shared why stereotypes, even “positive” ones, can be detrimental to people.

      We have a responsibility to calmly and thoughtfully express when someone is using stereotypes. No one learns any better if no one says “hey, that’s hurtful and here’s why.”

      PS: we don’t need to “lighten up” or “take a joke”. This isn’t comedy and only by drawing attention to these issues in an mature way can we cause society to change. It drives me batty that people feel the need to tell those of us who care about certain important social justice issues (animal rights/veganism, feminism, racial equality, LGBT issues, rape culture issues) that we’re just too sensitive and easily offended. Words have power and words express what our culture believes and how it works.

      I know Katie gets that and that’s why she responded with her usual grace and tact.

        • Deb says

          I have to agree with “An observer.” I am a vegan now, but I probably would’ve become one much sooner if it hadn’t have been for first meeting close-minded and easily-offended vegans that turned me off of the whole movement and made me THINK I never wanted to be like that.

          When you’re that easily-offended, and you can’t laugh at yourself, you hurt your own cause.
          I have found that when I’m able to laugh at myself, others are more at ease around me and thus more apt to listen (open-mindedly) to my message.

    • Emily says

      I would also like to point out that very few of Katie’s gentle critics were calling her “wrong,” but merely using this opportunity to offer a differing perspective. Before I took several courses on Ethnic Studies, Global Poverty, Anthropology, among others, I did not have the resources or insight to analyze these complicated matters. I am the first to admit my academic bias and privileged background from which I have gained access to this knowledge (and the limitations that come along with that) as well as realize others may not have had similar experiences. I also would argue that institutionalized education is far from the sole route to gaining knowledge, especially with the increasing availability and, arguably, democratization of information via the internet.

      We obviously all have internet access and as intelligent people realize we are on a public forum in order to facilitate the diffusion of our opinions and beliefs. Often misconceptions about the world stem from a narrow perspective, such as the number of comments by people that use a single example of their “Mexican friend” can be extrapolated and applied to an entire ethnicity. Whether or not the characteristic carries a positive or negative connotation in our society, the fact is that it is a limited and ultimately constricting viewpoint.

      Making jokes regarding preexisting stereotypes is generally widely accepted. I would argue it is the compassionate person that realizes these jokes come at the expense of entire groups of historically margainalized and people that have often been discriminated against solely on the basis of race/color/creed/gender/etc, and not the person that excuses one making a joke. (Note: I am replying to the phrase “lighten up” regarding jokes, not arguing Katie was making a joke, which I do not believe she was.)

      True, people get easily offended. However, I do not think this is a bad thing. If anything, “taking offense” is proof that people are aware of their human and social rights and do not stand for the violation of these rights, even if it is in what you consider a harmless fashion. Social change never came because people were afraid to point out blatant ignorance that was the de facto racial policies of the US. I would keep some of these points in mind next time you have the desire to dress up like a Native American for halloween, or don’t understand why nobody laughs at your Speedy Gonzales impression. Hint: The “I have a black friend” card won’t help you out. BE OFFENDED. I bet you are after reading this.

      TL;DR: Be offended, be be offended.

      • odorunara says

        “Be offended, be be offended.” Thank you for this, esp. the last paragraph! You and Melissa have had the best comments.

        Food blog or no, we all have a social responsibility. I think Katie has handled this incredibly well. I have commented on recipes before, but the reason I wanted to comment on this was that Katie is obviously an intelligent and caring person, and I wanted to share some resources I’ve found helpful in the past for understanding the role of class/sex/gender/ethnicity and stereotypes in the past. (Cultural Studies BA, Japan Studies MA, female, and now experiencing what it’s like to be an ethnic minority in Japan as a woman.) Even though I took Asian American history coursework, I don’t even think I understood how awkward and hurtful even positive stereotypes can be until I moved here and they became directed at me.

        Anyhow, even though I really came out of the woodwork for this post, I’m going to try harder to leave feedback for your recipes! I’ve only just discovered this blog thanks to Freshly Pressed, and I’ve been trying to sort out how to make some of these in Japan, since the ingredients here are a bit different. Alishan jumbo oats (even bigger and tougher than Quaker) make good boatmeal but don’t stick together well for the cookies, and I hate to be that commenter who makes the “I changed something; why didn’t it work?!” comment, even if it’s really about availability and not just changing things for the hell of it. 😉

  34. Courtney (greeneyedrunner) says

    I know that you meant to be complimentary, but the “Asians are smart” stereotype has a bit of a backlash. I went to high school in a predominantly Asian area, and while there were highly intelligent people at my school, it didn’t matter where they came from, rather, it was their motivation and dedication to making the most of their intelligence that truly made a difference. The problem I saw with that stereotype was the consequence for those of us that do not come from Asian backgrounds. With the perpetuation of the stereotype, there was almost a hierarchy, with students from other ethnic backgrounds at the bottom. I fought for four years to be recognized as intelligent, Caucasian or not. There was even an NPR program regarding my school, titled “Are Asian Students Smarter?” which, as you can imagine, was unbelievably painful to those of us who aren’t Asian but work just as hard.

    I am unbelievably blessed to come from the circumstances that I do, and I’m not trying to insult anyone. I know that I didn’t have to work my way up from nothing to make it in this country, but I also know that I still work really hard to secure a future for myself. I also don’t want you to feel attacked by my words at all, I just want you to know that when that stereotype is prevalent in a community, even that of a high school, it is used to promulgate prejudice and exalts one group while dismissing the potential of another.

    I’m not going to stop reading your blog, I think you are unbelievably adorable and have a great take on life and health, I just wanted you to know that after four years of fighting the “Caucasians are dumb” stereotype, I’d rather focus on the attributes of an individual that works hard than a generalization about a group.

      • Courtney (greeneyedrunner) says

        I did, and I think you did a beautiful job handling the situation-I’ve been reading for long enough to know that you’re a sweetie and wouldn’t have said something with the intention of hurting anyone! Like I said, I’m not going to stop reading, impossible actually, seeing as I eat chocolate for breakfast quite a lot 🙂

      • Rebecca says

        I just wish you weren’t someone who had to “realize” this. It should be obvious. Please take some time to think about the world–maybe as much time as you take to think about food.

  35. Lulu says

    I just read this at a great blog called chookooloonks and thought I’d share it since it seems to go perfectly with this topic:

    “People don’t rise from nothing. We do owe something to parentage and patronage. The people who stand before kings may look like they did it all by themselves. But in fact they are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot … Biologists often talk about the ‘ecology’ of an organism: the tallest oak in the forest is the tallest not just becaue it grew from the hardiest acorn; it is the tallest also because no other trees blocked its sunlight, the soil around it was deep and rich, no rabbit chewed through its bark as a sapling, and no lumberjack cut it down before it matured. We all know that successful people come from hardy seeds. But do we know enough about the sunlight that warmed them, the soil in which they put down roots, the rabbits and lumberjacks they were lucky enough to avoid?”

    ~ Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers: The Story of Success

  36. Linda Shea says

    I can completely understand where your comments are coming from and living in Texas myself, I have heard more than a few rather nasty stereo types. What people fail to understand though is that the ‘lazy’ lable was applied to not only Mexicans, but generally all Mediterreanean peoples that had a tradition of taking mid-afternoon siestas. People also fail to understand what people of those cultures know in that when you push yourself for hours on end your brain gets tired even if you don’t feel it and you tend to be less productive but if you take a couple of hours in the afternoon to get something to eat, rest a little and relax your productivity goes through the roof! See, we all need to have recess in the afternoon to recharge our batteries, not just the grade school kiddies! 🙂

  37. MichelleH says

    When someone says you run/hit/throw like a girl, you simply smile graciuosly and say ‘Why, Thank You!’. Or you could be snarky and say ‘jealous much?’. 😉

  38. Michaela says

    While I understand that people may have been upset by the stereotype issue, this is a blog about delicious, healthy, desserts. This is not a political blog or a social issues blog. I think its fine to politely disagree with someone in a few concise sentences, but I dont think this is the best platform to delve into the social, political, and economic reasons why stereotypes exist or to write several paragraphs on the issue. Just my opinion

    • L. says

      Yes! Agreed! Katie doesn’t say that her blog is about politics or sociology or being politically correct. She shouldn’t have to worry about every tiny little word she writes, JUST in case it offends someone.
      (And just so no one says I’m a biased American or anything, I am actually Taiwanese, so I know first hand about the pressures of being Asian. Are we judged differently? Yes. Is it fair? No. But you know what? Life isn’t fair. And also, it works both ways: sometimes teachers grade us more EASILY because they are subconsciously inclined to think our essays are good simply because of our heritage.

      I really don’t see the need for a lecture, especially from commenters who don’t normally bother to comment unless it’s to say something negative :(.

    • Jen says

      So then Katie shouldn’t have brought it up.

      Why is that simple concept so difficult for people to understand? When you bring something up ON THE INTERNET and you invite comments, you WILL get comments and they may not all agree with you and think you’re a special snowflake… how is that hard to *get*?

  39. Ana says

    Katie is such a sweetheart. She also handles herself very well, but most importantly her recipes are great….. this is after all, a FOOD blog!
    Katie, thank goodness you chose to keep your blog! I loveeed the frosting!

    • L. says

      Agreed! This is a FOOD blog! And people who only come out of lurking to say something negative should try leaving a GOOD comment every now and then. As Thumper would say, “If you can’t say something nice…”

  40. Jessica says

    All this stereotype drama aside, I can’t believe no one’s said how beautiful you look in that photograph. Gorgeous! 🙂

  41. Jennifer says

    Congratulations on your new digs – there is something, and I don’t know exactly how to define it – that is so freeing about being able to fully express yourself in your own home. EVerything about my home is me, me, me… and that is what is the most wonderful feeling of all – being in my own skin in my own space. Happy housewarming!

  42. Julie (A Case of the Runs) says

    Sorry, but this whole post just annoys me. If this is your food blog, it would be great to keep it that way… it really irks me when bloggers try to start some sort of “intelligent” conversation about who-knows-what when their JOB (the one that pays them) is to blog about food. Obviously, I get that you can do whatever you want on here, but don’t get surprised when people call you out on things that are outside of your expertise, especially on something that is so personal for everyone.

    • Eden says

      Totally agree. I don’t read your blog regularly (sorry, I just can’t deal with all this low calorie stuff), but if photography and food blogging is your thing, stick to it. Don’t start asking random questions about something like stereotypes and race. Everyone is going to have an opinion about this and I can’t help but wonder if you ask questions like this just to get hits since you say this is your “job”.

      • Deb says

        Seriously, Eden and Julie? If you don’t even read Katie’s blog, don’t you think you have some nerve to assume her reasons for asking certain questions and even for saying what her “thing” is? I’ve been a reader of Katie’s blog for a LONG time, and I can tell you that she always likes to throw discussion questions into the mix. And her regular readers appreciate it and love the discussion that ensues. Not everyone just wants to talk about food all the time. One thing I really love about Katie’s blog is how three-dimensional the content is. It’s not just a bunch of recipes.

        So please don’t come in here and try to ruin a nice atmosphere for those of us who really do enjoy being open-minded and learning from others’ comments.

        Also, I think it’s kind of sad that you don’t even read this blog, yet you took time to leave a snarky comment.

        • Eden says

          If you like the discussion, then why how is my opinion “ruining” the atmosphere? I’m not trying to be mean, I just noticed there are lots of other commenters so she shouldn’t be surprised that not everyone is agreeing with her. If this were a “mean” spirited comment, I’d probably not have the guts to post as myself.

        • Julie (A Case of the Runs) says

          discussion that she solicitied is perpetuating some VERY misguided viewpoints from both herself and other readers — “hard-working Mexicans,” “smart Asians,” “dumb Caucasians” and “ghetto blacks” among them. She spreads this poison while claiming she is a college graduate and has done a bit of traveling/studying abroad??

          And for the record, Deb, I have read this blog… I come by to check out her recipes instead of ingratiating myself by defending her and instead offering the advice to stay within her niche, since she doesn’t know what she is talking about and has obviously offended a lot of readers, minority or not.

          P.S. As an Asian-American, that “model minority” thing bugs the heck out of me… please don’t assume all Asians are well-off financially and academically. Kudos to the commenter above mentioned that a lot of Southeast Asians, for one, struggle more circumstantially and are beaten hard by this stereotype threat. A personal peeve of mine, since I am among that group.

          • Deb says

            Eden: I just find it offensive that you would assume things about how this blog is run when you don’t ever read. And also, I don’t see anywhere on this post where Katie has said she’s surprised people don’t agree with her. The opposite, in fact. She handled differing opinions with tact and open mindedness, which is much more than most people will do when faced with opposing views. I have a lot of respect for how she was open to changing her original opinion.

            Julie: Katie already apologized for offending people. What more do you want? Are you so perfect that you never make a mistake? Well I guess maybe you are. I’m not, and I doubt anyone else besides you is. So I hope you someday share your perfection secret with the rest of us.

            I’m sorry for my negativity here, and I won’t be posting any more responses to you both on this post or even looking back. Like I said earlier, I value the positive atmosphere on this blog, and I fear my responses here are only contributing to bringing it down. I’ll be moving on now.

  43. Carrie @ No More Tomorrows says

    I grew up as a white girl in a mostly white, very small midwestern town. We had one black family in our town. We had a small population of mexicans, a few south/central americans, and like 3 asian/mixed families (mother asian, father white). Yes, my town was small enough that I could actually tell you how many of those families there were in town.

    I heard a lot of things growing up, offhanded comments that people didn’t realize were completely not okay. I remember it bothered me, but I didn’t really take as much offense as I do to them now. I was told I had “N***er lips”, there were some kind of nuts that people called “N***er toes”. If someone was told to do something, I’d hear them come off with the smart aleck reply of “I’m white in America” implying freedom based on being white. I could go on and on about it. I think that the majority of people saying those things were just ignorant and not really hateful. But ignorance doesn’t get a pass.

    I moved away from there, into a more diverse city, and the only men I’ve dated since (not by exclusion, just by coincidence) have been black men. I began to appreciate a culture that I knew nothing about, apart from the Cosby Show, growing up. I have fallen in love with this culture. My current boyfriend and most likely the man I will be marrying, has done so much in educating me about race. He’s open and honest about the issues in the area of race, and talks about it mindfully and intelligently. It has opened my eyes to so much that I didn’t realize.

    Stereotypes are damaging. Comedians make a lot of money by joking about them, but it’s not funny. It separates us. It labels us. Have I laughed at “stuff white people like”? Of course I have. But should I? No. Because it doesn’t help unite us as human beings. It drives the wedge between us.

    Ignorance doesn’t get a pass. We live in a technologically advanced age. There’s no reason for anybody to not be educated about the role that race plays in our everyday lives, and how other races have been unfairly labeled and judged because of the shade their skin is. There’s no excuse for lack of awareness. Not anymore.

  44. Avra-Sha Faohla says

    Did you know that female arms are indeed different from male arms? They’re sort of naturally bent at the elbow (stand up, let your arms hang by your sides, and twist your palms forward to see what I mean). Male arms are mostly straight. The angle is supposed to make it easier to bring a baby you’re nursing to your chest and cradle its head on the inside of your elbow.

    Anyway, because of this girls throw differently. So the stereotype of “throwing like a girl” really is true! I don’t know if our throwing is just different or if it’s actually inferior like the boys say . . . but I’ll leave that discussion for another time. 😉

  45. Trish @ MyBigFatBundt says

    These ‘discussions’ are hilarious. I don’t know why people with ‘higher educational backgrounds’ get so bent out of shape with political correctness. My husband has an international degree in business and marketing, speaks three languages fluently, comes from Zimbabwe, has very dark skin, and thinks all of this stuff is so funny–everyone getting all bent out of shape. Seriously…he just read all of these comments and is shaking his head right now.
    I came here to read about the house and see some recipes, and everyone is arguing over Mexicans and Asians and who knows what else that I didn’t bother reading. If people would relax and stop ALLOWING themselves to be offended, racial stereo-types would actually start to die as being a ‘mainstream’ thing. Things can ONLY be offensive if the other person allows them to be. It’s a co-created situation, my friends. I’m a white German, married to a black Zimbabwean, and we’ve BOTH heard everything from both sides of the spectrum. My family is filled with Moroccans, Germans, Zimbabweans, French, Americans, and even Chinese people. (I’m not kidding–our family is so racially mixed and diverse, it’s starting to become difficult to tell, based on physical appearance alone, who the heck is what anymore!) We always joke around and call ourselves mutts. There are racial stereotypes thrown around amongst my large, extended family…and not one single person gets offended. We all have a good laugh and choose to ENJOY LIFE rather than waste time trying to ‘politically correct’ other people (as if we are all perfect??). As my mother used to say…don’t go sweeping the neighbor’s front porch until you are sure that yours is spotless. All of this is akin to people being grammar nazis. Do something constructive with your time, like perhaps volunteering toward a POSITIVE venture. It’s like how it doesn’t make any sense for rabid animal rights activists to pour red paint on someone wearing fur. Waste of time, my dear friends. Instead, go and volunteer at those animals shelters where those furry friends really need our help. My husband has had his fair share of getting pulled over for DWB (driving while black), and it doesn’t even bother him. He says it’s such a waste of time and energy, and he even says that many stereotypes appear to be true because…well, they are to some degree. LIGHTEN UP, EVERYONE. Bake a chocolate-covered-Katie-single-lady-muffin and R.E.L.A.X.

    • Avra-Sha Faohla says

      Amen to that, Trish! All this fretting over PC really gets out of hand. I’ve heard of cases where people mention that they don’t agree with a policy of President Obama’s and are accused of being racists. Like, really?! I think racism goes both ways. You shouldn’t be specifically sensitive about someone’s race or color because it shows that you can’t view them as equal to WASPs. A real non-racist doesn’t bring up someone’s race at all.

      (A word in defense of grammar Nazis: Many grammar Nazis are just trying to teach people the proper grammar rules. They don’t mean to come across as snooty; if someone points out that you used a word incorrectly, he probably is just trying to help and be informative so that next time you can do it right.)

  46. Sheri Dakan says

    Hi Katie, I’m very new to cooking and I love your website! The homemade nutella was wonderful. However last night I tried out the Beer bread and it did not do well. The outside made a crust, golden brown, but the inside was all white and doughy. I don’t know what I did wrong. Thanks, SJ from Vegas

    • Unofficial CCK Helper says

      Did you check through Katie’s Recipe FAQ page at the top of her blog? It has a troubleshooting section. Please report back!

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