Jamaican stereotypes

A Rastafarian man in a rasta cap at a port of Jamaica's Black River.

Jamaica is an island in the Caribbean Sea, located 90 miles south of Cuba, and 100 miles southwest of Haiti. There exist several common stereotypes about Jamaican people.

Marijuana

Further information: Cannabis in Jamaica

Marijuana is a preparation of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug and as medicine. Cannabis is locally known as ganja, and internationally Jamaica, its reggae music, and cannabis consumption play a prominent role in Jamaica's public image.

A common stereotype about Jamaicans is that every Jamaican smokes marijuana. According to the information provided by the World Drug Report, about 10% of Jamaicans smoke marijuana. Though many people might think that marijuana is legal, smoking in public results in being arrested by authorities. Many tourists had been arrested because of the thought that marijuana is legal.

Men

The general perception of Jamaican men is that they are womanizers.

Rastafari

While Rastafari is a common religion among black Jamaicans that look up to the past Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, only 3% of the population practices this religion.

Family size

The population growth rate in Jamaica is at 0.7%, and it is considered to be an underpopulated country. On average, each woman gives birth to two children.

Economy

Jamaica is in a lot of debt; public debt has increased to 140% of the GDP, due to deficits and excessive debt service and borrowing. However, there have been improvements in procedures regarding to starting businesses, foreign investment is more available, and property rights are more secured.

Skin color

Another stereotype is that all Jamaicans are black, but this is not the case.

Stereotypes about black people may affect Jamaicans of color, because some white people do not distinguish between different ethnicities of non-whites.

See also

• Jamaican people
• Jamaican culture