An American in France: Where are You From?

What is often seen as a celebration of both diversity and unity in America can be seen as racist in France. 

By Katelyn Livorse

 

EiC’s Note: This is the second article in a new series called “An American in France.” In the series, I will discuss interactions, similarities, and differences between France and the United States. Each article will focus on a different topic concerning the two peoples and their cultures as they relate to one another. 

 

As I’m entering my third week in France, I can’t help but notice that the French often ask different questions when they first make your acquaintance. In the United States, one of the first questions we often ask a person we have just met is, “Where are you from?” Our state and our city of origin are highly important to who we are. We might also ask at some point what our new acquaintance’s heritage is. “I’m Italian-American,” they person might respond.

Believe it or not, in France, people can see such a question and a label like “Franco-Italian” as racist.

 

French Identities

This semester, I have the privilege of taking a French Identities course. So far, we have discussed a few of the differences between how the French and American peoples identify themselves, including through their origins. While Americans often proclaim their origins and include it as part of their identity, the French are much more prone to a united sense of “French-ness.”

Typically, in France, you don’t ask someone where they came from. If you live in France, you are French. Of course, there are exceptions, such as when I attempt to speak French to a native and hearing an accent, they ask “D’ou venez-vous?” (Where do you come from?)

In addition, the French do not label themselves as “Franco-Italian,” for example, but simply French. If pressed, they may go so far as to say they are French with Italian origin. That is not to say they are not proud of their heritage, but they view themselves first and foremost as French, rather than French and something else.

 

One Country 

As I briefly mentioned earlier, it can be seen as racist to ask questions about where a person comes from, or to call someone “Franco-Italian.” To put it very simply, the French avoid doing this because they see it as dividing the person into a separate group and labeling them as “different” from the rest of the French people. 

The United States certainly struggles with racism, but when we describe ourselves as “Italian-American,” it is often seen as a celebration of our differences while also acknowledging that we are one American people. 

The French often view what Americans see as a celebration of both diversity and unity much differently. One country’s approach to identity isn’t necessarily better than another, but it certainly is interesting to see how two countries, both Western in culture, view such matters differently. 

 

 

About the Author

Katelyn Livorse is a marketing fellow at the Institute for Faith and Freedom and the editor-in-chief of Checkpoint News.  A junior political science and French major, Katelyn is a style editor for the Grove City College Journal of Law and Public Policy and served as a contributing writer for The Collegian. She is also a member of the AEI Executive Council at Grove City College.

In the summer of 2024, Katelyn interned at The American Spectator as an editorial intern. There, she covered topics ranging from Iraqi politics to the 2024 American Presidential Election. She also interviewed figures in American politics, including Paul Haring who wrote the Hyde Amendment.

Katelyn has also worked as a translator for the Jews of the Somme Project. She worked to translate French documents written during the Nazi occupation of France detailing the persecution of the Jewish population. Upon graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in international relations.

READ MORE BY KATELYN LIVORSE: An American in France: The Election

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer alone and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grove City College, the Institute for Faith and Freedom, or their affiliates.

Cover Image: Photo by Anthony Choren on Unsplash.