Break that stereotype!

Western social etiquette school in China

Stereotypes. We all hate them especially when talking about our own culture. We don't like to be labelled something we are not, whether negative or positive. Can we do something about it? Yes!

A well-groomed Chinese woman travels aborad and, with her genteel ways, gets mistaken - for a Japanese.

Huh? Why can't Chinese women be known for genteel ways? Isn't that what the western person thinks when he thinks of a Chinese woman? Well, maybe a Chinese woman who lived a century or two ago. Sadly, today's Chinese woman is labelled as brusque, loud and demanding. Is that true? Not always. Is that fair? Certainly not.

Enter Ms Sara Jane Ho from Hong Kong. She has been schooled in the finest finishing school in the world. She sniffed out a great business opportunity. "Chinese women are hungry and humble," she says. Ms Ho has opened the first western etiquette school for women only in China. There is a long waiting list to enter the school. She is doing very well.

Chinese men and women are global travellers today. In 2013, an estimated 90 million Chinese will travel out of China. That's more than the population of some countries! They bring with them lots of money to spend. They are eager to make a good impression on their hosts. More importantly, they want to break the stereotype of the "typical Chinese". I believe we will see the emergence of a new breed of Chinese woman - genteel.

The new economic superpowers today are not coming out of Europe or America. They are coming out of the east. China is investing heavily in many parts of the world. Many countries and companies want to break into the vast Chinese market. Whichever side of the world you come from, manners will open the door to a long-term relationship. After all, 关系 (relationship) is the way to do business anywhere in the world, not just in China. So, while Chinese women are taking steps to break the poor image of their ungracious manners, what is the rest of the world doing to learn how to do business in China? You can get a book here.

Here's to a new Chinese woman - genteel!

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