Do the English have an extremely high love of privacy or is it just a common stereotype? (PDF)

Essay from the year 2009 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1,0, University of Trier, language: English, abstract: "Englishness" is a common word used to refer to special values and characteristics that the English have and that demarcate them from others. Examining English characteristics, you will realize very quickly that privacy, which is defined as "the state of being alone and not watched or disturbed by other people," (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, 2000) is highly regarded in England. Most English people make a clear distinction between the two areas of "private" and "public" life, as it is also stated by Dorsey et al. by saying that "To be a private person is not to be a public person." (2004). In this matter, the English are conscious of the importance of privacy in their lives; but not all of them are aware of the extent to which privacy regulates their daily life, although it is reflected in their behaviour. The English definitely have an extreme love of privacy that can be seen in various areas of life, such as their house and gardens, their behaviour towards people they know, their behaviour towards unknown people, and their high interest in the protection of personal data.