I recently came across an article entitled, "Blood Type B Unlucky for would-be Korean Romeos," written by Jon Herskovitz, revealing that men with B blood types are being discriminated against in the dating scene in South Korea. Lee Sung-san, a 24-year old South Korean male with a B-blood type says, " 'I have had women tell me flat out they don't date blood type-B guys. They say we are selfish and hot-headed' " (Herskovitz).
In Korea and many other Asian countries, one's blood type is thought to reveal something about one's personality and the compatibility between two people. For example, people who have type-B blood are considered "goal oriented and strong minded individualists" and are compatible with other type-Bs or type-ABs. This phenomenon of blood-typing personalities is said to have originated in Japan in the early 20th century. However, it is only recently that that Type-B men are being discriminated against. In his article, Jon Herskovitz places blame for this new trend on Korean popular culture where Type-B men are portrayed as selfish, fickle and absolutely useless as caring and devoted boyfriends. They are seen as the "bad boys"--fun, but not suitable for long term commitments.
Kim Nang's book, "Dating a Type-B Man" is a guide for women of all blood-types on how to deal with the "pitfalls and pleasures of striking up relationships with type-B men." The 2004 song "Type-B Men," sung by Kim Hyun-jung, is about a woman who has a boyfriend with blood type B. From the lyrics, one concludes that Type-B men are "quick to get angry and quick to make up, but in the end, they will break your heart." The 2005 movie, "B-Hyeong Namja Chingu" or "My Boyfriend is Type-B" is a romantic comedy in which a Type-A woman and a Type-B man "meet by accident after a row over him ruining her cellphone. She believes they were destined to meet, but the problem is, he has blood-type B, making him spontaneous and emotional but unreliable" (www.imdb.com/title/tt0452972) .
Although the correlation between one's blood type and personality has been disproved, many still believe in the validity of this practice. This lead me to question, how can popular culture override a proven fact?
I think this could be explained by Dominic Strinati's "An Introduction to the Theories of Popular Culture." The mass consumerism of the book "Dating a Type-B Man," the movie, "My Boyfriend is Type-B," and the song, "Type-B Men" shows their appeal to the mass culture, which "celebrates trivial, sentimental, immediate, and false pleasures . . . preferring the undemanding ease of fantasy and escapism" (Strinati 14). This phenomenon also falls under Strinati's theory of postmodernism, where popular culture and mass media, ". . . govern and shape all other forms of social relationships" (Strinati 224). The reality of how we define ourselves and the world around us can become distorted through how the masses perceive the reality presented to us through popular culture (Strinati 224). Essentially, these forms of popular culture have shaped their view of male B-blood types and seems to have strengthened the idea of the blood-type personality theory into the consciousness of South Koreans.
Thoughts?
You can find the article at http://www.natashatynes.org/newswire/2005/04/blood_type_b_un.html
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4 comments:
I agree- popular culture is reinforcing the stereotypes that Koreans have created/adopted about Type Bs. The media works as an example of acceptable behavior and ideas for a country, thus making it acceptable for people to use these prejudices.
I also found this information interesting because to me it recalls astrology and the idea that some signs(taurus, virgo, etc) are more compatible than others. I've never heard of people actually rejecting someone becuase they're the "wrong" sign though - usually astrology isn't taken seriously.
The notion of linking body chemistry to personality is common in many cultures, as divorced from actual science. I remember reading about the theory that temperaments were influenced by bodily fluids or "humours". A Sanguine person was one whose personality was ruled by blood and was very sociable and extroverted, but also unreliable and superficial. A Phlegmatic (phlegm) was gentle and easy to get along with, but also shy and lazy/selfish at times. A Choleric person (yellow bile) was ambitious and driven, but also angry and difficult. A Melancholy person (black bile) was gifted and empathetic, but prone to depression.
I guess even before globalization became an issue, certain traits have always been similar amongst cultures. The idea that a person's physical state controls their personality seems to be one of these. Perhaps on some level, people like the idea that their own and other people's personalities are predestined, and can be explained by physiology. Indeed, the idea of what actually makes up personalities seems to be something that makes everyone uncomfortable. Obviously, the down-side to this "predestination" is that it means some people are avoided based on physiology that may have little/nothing to do with personality. Obviously, this is the case for Blood-type B boys.
Like you mentioned, there is a movie called, "My Boyfriend is Type B" that was released a couple years ago. (just want to elaborate a bit more) The main character, is Blood Type B and has a really bad personality. He uses her oftenly and at times, treats her inhumanely. Throughout the entire movie, the female main character's sister woud constantly warn her about dating men with Blood Type B. I believe that this also serves as evidence for the growing stereotype towards type B men. I also believe that this is an example of how popular culture, such as media, can influence the thinking of numerous people.
In the beginning of the semester, I was looking up some of the Korean pop bands online and found a site for one of them that had facts about each member. I remember at the time reading their blood types and being very confusd as to why that was on there. I forgot about it afterwards and didn't remember even after reading your post, but recently I was looking up some tv actors online and once again, their blood type was given along with their height, weight, and hobbies! Then I remembered your post and I was glad to finally have an explanation as to this somewhat odd occurrence. It does remind me, as Zoe said, of astrology, although again, as she said, it usually isn't taken very seriously, as blood types seem to be.
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