What Are Some Defunct Ethnic Stereotypes?

"Drunk/hungover as seven Swedes" appears out of fashion.

Many stereotypes have endured over the generations, in contradiction of the stereotype that stereotypes can’t possibly be true.

On the other hand, many have also faded out.

For example, my late father-in-law could recall the old Chicago saying “as drunk as seven Swedes” to describe the binge drinking common among the Swedes who lived in the Near North shanty town that became the Cabrini-Green housing project.

Looking it up on Google, I appear to be only source for the phrase “drunk as seven Swedes.” Nonetheless, binge drinking appears to still be a problem in Sweden, although in decline. But there aren’t that many pure Swedes left in America.

The most famous literary reference to Swedes and alcohol is in Raymond Chandler’s detective novel The Lady in The Lake, in which a character says:

"Sorry, Mr. Marlowe," he said slowly. "I was out on the roof last night and I've got a hangover like seven Swedes.”

By the way, there will soon be a podcast in which I wax literary over Chandler.

Another Chicago stereotype was that Near North Swedes had illegitimate children, which also seems to be characteristic of modern Scandinavians.

Then the Swedes were replaced by Sicilians, who didn’t binge drink and didn’t have illegitimate children, but who famously had other issues. They were then replaced by African Americans, who in turn made Cabrini-Green notorious for yet again different reasons. The last I’d heard, Cabrini-Green had been torn down and replaced by things like a fly-fishing store for yuppies with second homes in Jackson Hole.

Other ethnic stereotypes we don’t hear much anymore:

Paywall here.