Stereotypes of French people#Military

Stereotypes of the French by the British people, especially the English people, have existed for centuries. This is in part due to the many Anglo-French Wars (1193–1815).{{cite web |title=Introduction |work=Vive la différence! The English and French stereotype in satirical prints 1720-1815|url=https://vive-la-difference.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/ |publisher=The Fitzwilliam Museum|access-date=2019-10-01}}

Americans view the French as effeminate and cowardly.{{cite web|url=https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=ojii_volumes |title=Pardon Our French: French Stereotypes in American Media |last=Ferber |first=Lauren |date=2008 |website=digitalcommons.unf.edu |access-date=2019-06-05}}{{cite web|url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/vaisse20030725.pdf |title=American Francophobia Takes a New Turn |last=Vaisse |first=Justin |date=June 14, 2003 |website=Brookings.edu |access-date=2019-06-05}} Francophobia and xenophobic sentiments towards the French have been an established part of the culture of the United States.{{cite web|url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/576886eb44024398993abcbf/t/58b8ef2129687fbe30a5a62e/1488514852679/Sonya-Caron.pdf |title=The French and the American culture:always the same stereotypes on both sides? |website=static1.squarespace.com |access-date=2019-06-05}} The French have a reputation for tipping poorly.{{cite web |url=https://www.thelocal.fr/20140731/french-among-the-stingiest-tippers-survey |title='The French among the world's stingiest tippers' |first=Sophie |last=Inge |date=31 July 2014 |access-date=8 May 2023 |work=The Local }}

{{see also|Haute cuisine}}

French cuisine is a major part of French culture, and French food is often regarded as among the best in the world, with The Guardian stating "a really fine French dish represents one of the undisputed pinnacles of human cultural achievement."{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/22/french-stereotype-best-food-in-world |title=Stereotypes: The best food in the world | newspaper=The Guardian |date=22 March 2011 |last1=Henley |first1=Jon |access-date=8 May 2023 }}

The French are commonly regarded to enjoy eating cheese, snails, frog legs, and plenty of bread, particularly baguettes and croissants. The French are also known for their fondness for wine.{{cite web |url=https://www.cia-france.com/blog/culture-french-traditions/demystifying-french-stereotypes-and-cliches |access-date=8 May 2023 |title=Demystifying French stereotypes and cliches |date=7 November 2018 |work=cia-france.com }}

France, particularly Paris, has been perceived for being a high fashion place where designer clothes and cosmetics are made.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/28/weekinreview/the-world-for-americans-it-s-french-sissies-versus-german-he-men.html |title=The World; For Americans, It's French Sissies Versus German He-Men |first=Nina |last=Bernstein |work=The New York Times |date=28 September 2003 |access-date=9 May 2023 }}

The French are perceived as having poor hygiene, originating from American soldiers during World War II.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/25/french-stereotypes-failure-wash |title=French stereotypes: failure to wash |first=Jon |last=Henley |date=25 March 2011 |website=The Guardian |access-date=8 May 2023 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/most-common-stereotypes-irish-people-14003114|title=10 of the most common stereotypes French people have about Ireland|first=Marie|last=Desevedavy|date=18 February 2019|website=Irishmirror.ie}}

The perception that French workers are prone to strikes and take a lot of time off has established a stereotype of the French being workshy.{{cite web |access-date=9 May 2023 |url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2013/02/25/french-workers/ |title=Contrary to national stereotypes, French workers are more productive than their German counterparts and only marginally less productive than American workers |last1=Hancké |first1=Robert |date=25 February 2013 |website=London School of Economics }}{{cite web |url=https://www.thelocal.fr/20180131/the-worst-cliches-about-the-french-that-need-to-be-dropped-right-now/ |title=The worst cliches about the French that really need to be dropped |date=31 January 2018 |website=The Local |access-date=8 May 2023 }}

A common stereotypical image of French people, especially in British media, was of a man on a bicycle wearing a striped jumper and beret with a string of onions around his neck. This derives from the "Onion Johnny," a nickname for Breton itinerant onion-sellers who cycled around England and Wales in the 20th century; for many British people, this would be their only contact with French people.{{cite web|last1=Passmore|first1=Susan|title=Last of the Onion Men, The|url=http://www.gwales.com/goto/biblio/en/9780863817830/|website=gwales|access-date=26 April 2017}} – Review of {{cite book|last1=Griffiths|first1=Gwyn|title=The last of the onion men|date=2002|publisher=Gwasg Carreg Gwalch|location=Llanrwst|isbn=9780863817830}}{{cite magazine|date=22 November 2013 |title=Gwyn 'Winwns' is honoured in Brittany|url=http://www.cambriamagazine.co.uk/gwyn-winwns-is-honoured-in-brittany/ |magazine=Cambria|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023135743/http://www.cambriamagazine.co.uk/gwyn-winwns-is-honoured-in-brittany/ |access-date=26 April 2017|url-status=usurped |archive-date=23 October 2014 }}

Despite being one of the world's leading powers from the mid 17th century to the early 19th century, the French Army has sometimes had a reputation for cowardice as a result of their rapid defeat in the Battle of France.{{cite web |first=John |last=Noonan |url-status=dead |url=https://www.weeklystandard.com/john-noonan/the-french-militarys-bad-reputation-is-inaccurate-and-undeserved |title=The French Military's Bad Reputation is Inaccurate and Undeserved|date=25 August 2016|website=The Weekly Standard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205192255/https://www.weeklystandard.com/john-noonan/the-french-militarys-bad-reputation-is-inaccurate-and-undeserved |archive-date=5 December 2018 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/antifrench-stereotypes-st_b_36460|title=Anti-French Stereotypes Still Served Up|first=Myriam|last=Miedzian|date=15 December 2006|website=HuffPost}}

French people are perceived as being very romantic.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jan/26/french-stereotypes-arrogant-good-in-bed |title=French stereotypes: arrogant and good in bed? Bien sûr!|first=Jean-Michel|last=Normand|date=26 January 2012|website=The Guardian }}

French waiters have been perceived as rude and disrespectful, especially to foreigners who speak little to no French.{{cite news |date=15 August 2017 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/france/articles/the-truth-about-french-cliches/ |title=The truth behind French stereotypes, from its surly waiters to its lousy music |first=Chris |last=Leadbeater |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=9 May 2023 }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/the-rude-french-myth-1364455 |date=November 9, 2019 |access-date=9 May 2023 |work=thoughtco.com |title=Are French People Really Rude? Exploring the Myth}}

Smoking in France is a common trope when associated with France, especially the local Gauloises brand.{{cite web |url=https://www.thelocal.fr/20170502/smoking-france-cigarettes-do-french-really-smoke- |title=The French and smoking: Is France really 'Europe's chimney' |date=2 May 2017 |website=The Local |access-date=2021-01-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/@IRahmanJones/french-smoking-cigarette-law-gainsbourg-bardot-cool-f385dbf32597|title=Small, White and Strong: How French Cigarettes Became the Coolest in the World|first=Imran|last=Rahman-Jones|date=April 27, 2019|website=Medium |access-date=9 May 2023 }}

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French

Stereotypes

Stereotypes