I was asked the other day why I had never got round to Germany on this topic.
It is not actually an easy question to answer, but maybe as I live here and as I have maybe become more German than anything else, it is not quite so easy to be objective. It is, if you like, looking at the intellectual potential of women generally and then looking at your wife and trying to stay objective. She is very bright, she is such a nice lady ....
OK - German stereotypes. Firstly I will steer clear of all the silly 1940s references when it comes to German stereotypes as they are no longer relevant, much as some people in the UK might think otherwise. I also discovered 'tother day that Nigel Farage of the EXP (UKIP to its misguided supporters) has a German wife. She may have gone in the reverse direction from the one I have taken, I cannot comment further.
So firstly, I will offer you this wonderful article:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22624104
Now isn't that good???!!!
Hang the red, black and gold flag on the window and feel really chuffed for the next 45 minutes. Nowt to do with the 1940s - how about now?
So here we are cosmopolitan, open-minded, sensible, and loved! The whole world over!
Stop whispering "cut the crowing, Tony, and get back to the stereotypes. And remember that Pew Global Attitudes report you mentioned 'tother day that wasn't quite as complimentary". (See my blog article "On the EU - why the UK would be better off not leaving, what Europeans think at the moment of the EU and the Euro" dated May 17th, 2013).
OK - word one "arrogant". It is curious really that a country whose leaders seem to bend over backwards to be reasonable is regarded as arrogant. At times the ability to get over what needs to be done could be handled better - see the Greek financial crisis - but it is actually quite rare for the German government of any stripe to go into a meeting with a "take it or leave it" attitude - see the UK in comparison. As for individual Germans, well I have met a few who are arrogant, but many who are not. I could say the same in every country in which I have worked (except Norway, where most everyone seemed reasonable).
And remember that the current German government are not so much "arrogant", as "conservative". Which I would view as more of a problem. So the Greek bailout was carried out following conservative principles. You must pay back the money and cut spending. Anyone want to tell me that the UK does not apply the same thinking to its own economy?
No. Right, move on.
Words two and three "efficient" and "punctual". As I see myself as efficient and punctual, I do not see this as a problem. In fact I regard them as laudable qualities. Interestingly though, a few weeks ago I saw a poll in which only 30% of Germans actually saw themselves in these terms. So either people here underestimate their potential in these directions, or the stereotypes do not actually fit.
Go catch a train here some time. Brilliant engineering on the very fast ICEs, between the major cities, good reliable services on suburban lines - usually punctual. Once in a while a train breaks down though, and then you never hear the last of it. So some things do matter.
Word four "beer" - as in "they drink a lot of ..... ". True. I think that Germans finish second or third in terms of drinking beer per capita when you compare all the countries of the world. And they have an enormous variety of the stuff. And there are the usual arguments between regions as to who produces the best brew. Many Bavarians will have you believe that the only real beer in the country is produced in (needless to say) Bavaria, and anyone who has been to the Oktoberfest will agree that there is some excellent beer to be quaffed down there.
But realise also that beer is not the only drink for which the country should be known. There are some excellent wines (mainly from the West and South-West), some very strong liqueurs like Jägermeister usw. And then of course in Hessen (and particularly in Frankfurt) apple wine. Which is alcoholic. So you are not limited to beer here.
Word five "cars". As in they manufacture cars that are amazing that never break down and last forever .... Well the automobile industry is still alive even if Opel are having problems. As I personally do not drive, I cannot really comment about the quality these days.
Word six "humour" as in "they have no sense of .... ". Try watching Mario Barth some time. He is very funny. You don't speak German? So you wouldn't understand him? Then how would you know that they do not have a sense of humour? (Come on, we are in Germany - be logical!). There are also quite a few satirical magazines, there is a fondness for slapstick humour on television. And a number of brilliant cartoonists - Uli Stein, Ralph Ruthe usw. Yes, Germans can be very serious as well, but the humour is there if you look for it, and you can speak the language (well it helps).
Try at this moment my favourite Ruthe cartoon from You Tube (and it helps if you speak German!).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_xl9boG8Qg
Not many silly stereotypes to date then. Well I did say that I would have problems analysing this country ....
Move on.
I recall that during the 2006 World Cup one American politician remarking upon the fact that Germany has legalised prostitution and that the country ought to change its laws on that and quick. Given the fact that millions of visitors were due to descend upon the country and thousands of women were likely to be inveigled into working in the "industry"!
One should hasten to add that his concern was about foreign (i.e. non-German) women being trafficked, and it might have been a fair point. The German media chided him gently about interfering in other people's business, and more or less let the matter drop.
Really then it is a question where you are as to whether you see it as a "problem". In Frankfurt there is right across the road from the main railway station the Bahnhofviertel with its array of sex shops and champagne bars (beware!) and "Sex Inns". The area is tawdry and uninspiring, but not particularly dangerous. That it is parked slap bang between the station, the financial district and the major shopping area is unfortunate, but if you do not want to wander round the neighbourhood, it is easy enough to avoid by just staying on the S-Bahn.
Apparently very few German women work in the neighbourhood, and despite the fact that they are supposed to be registered, subject to health checks usw, there are occasional stories of women being trafficked there. It takes a bit of believing that women in Latin America, Asia usw arrived there that easily of their own accord, and were able to communicate. Yes, of course the police do come round and check permits occasionally (obviously they have nowt better to do).
There are no German women who work in the industry? Not exactly. There are also the upmarket "clubs" essentially aimed at businessmen and apparently it is a bit of a different story there. Not only in Frankfurt, but also elsewhere in the country there are also clubs specialising for international businessmen from countries like Japan with apparently prices to match.
Different cities have different attitudes to the "industry" though. In Cologne, for example, you would be unaware that any such activities went on if you never go out of the city centre. The authorities often only give licences to clubs out in obscure suburbs. Which frankly strikes me as the sensible way to go about things. That way they would be less of an eyesore and would only attract the clientele that wanted to use them.
All told Germans tend to be open minded on the subject of sex, although it is also worth bearing in mind that this is a capitalist country and this is one of the legalised ways of making money. Going anywhere where the industry is prevalent - see the Reeperbahn and the neighbouring streets in Hamburg for example - the phrase "caveat emptor" is advised. If you must indulge (not that I would advise you to), then take care that you understand everything that is involved. There are legal restrictions and then there are grey areas. You are very much advised to know where you stand with both.
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