From The Peopling of New York City
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Introduction:
What is it that gives a neighborhood or town a sense of personality? From the people that live there to the scenery, each has its own specific traits that define it. This holds true even for Staten Island-The “Forgotten Borough”. Staten Island is the least populated of the five boroughs of New York, with a population of 443,728 according to the 2000 census, but the third largest in area, approximately 38.4% vacant land. Although the island is isolated, the inhabitants of Staten Island have become very well known. Due to television programs and movies, Staten islanders have received a reputation for being loud and obnoxious. In other words, a “Guido”- the typical Italian with a Staten island accent. This media representation has made Staten Islanders popular targets for ridicule and disrespect. I want to further understand why the media chooses to portray Staten Islanders in such a way and if it is actually true to real life.
Stereotyping:
What does it mean to be stereotyped? A stereotype is a group of people categorized together due to a common public belief. These generalizations are based
upon specific characteristics each individual possesses. Stereotyping can be very problematic. Groups define themselves according to who they are and who they are not. These stereotypes are, in many instances, used in a negative manner to attack their pride and confidence.
Guidos and Guidettes
A commonly used stereotype in Staten Island is a "Guido". A "Guido" is a person, usually italian american, that thinks very highly of themselves and takes great pride in their appearance. The guido stereotype has become a negative image. Due to television shows such as the "Jersey Shore", the term guido (males) or Guidette (females) is associated with being rude/obnoxious, built or juiced, and above all FAKE. The media also depicts "Guidos" as wild partyers, with many anger issues. although many consider this term to be offensive towards italians, there are some who accept it and are proud to say they belong to this group. In a way it has given them yet another way to stand out in the world.
Gangs/Ghetto
If you are not apart of the "Guidos" of Staten Island, then you must be in a gang or try to act gangster. This is what many outsiders believe to be true of Staten Islanders. another common stereotype that comes to mind when people hear Staten Island is that we are rowdy teenagers, involved in gangs and drugs. It is typically thought to be groups of teens, wearing baggy clothing, smoking and pill popping. In the movie Staten Island, director James Demonaco depicts the characters as older men born and raised in Staten Island,involved in the mob with the purpose of killing and selling drugs.
The Media:
The media has become an important factor in daily life. The average person spends 28 hours a week watching television and movies. This has had significant influence of the minds of people today. We are exposed to some form of media everyday, whether it be a magazine, newspaper, internet, movies, etc.
The Forgotten Borough--or so we thought...
In present years the media has chosen to focus on Staten Island, and more specifically the people that live there. When mentioning Staten Island it is a common to hear words such as Guido, tan, fake, accents and many more. Where did these assumptions come from? The media has "brainwashed" the audience into believing this is truly how every Staten Islander behaves. it has portrayed the younger generation of Staten Island as ignorant, wild partyers. It is not surprising that Staten Island is gaining a bad reputation.
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