Comments on: Asking People About Their Ethnicity

By: Cottontimer

Cottontimer — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 09:29:22 +0000

mdmhvonpa: lol You are such a new age male.

Liz: I’ll email you! Will be in California in a week’s time.

Dayjamas: Hi! Thanks for the comment. I agree. The American accent attracts a lot of attention here in London. Almost as much as in Singapore where I get no end of stares. Sometimes people think I’m faking it to be cool. Duh.

By: Dayjamas

Dayjamas — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 18:51:21 +0000

It was interesting to read about your experience in London. I’m Asian-American and lived there for a bit in the mid-90’s. I had no idea how people would react to my ethnicity, but was pleasantly surprised that it turned out to be a non-issue. In fact, I’d never felt so “color-less” in my life. Several Brits and other Europeans asked me if I was American, but not one person asked about my ethnicity. For some reason being American was a much bigger issue.

By: Liz Ditz

Liz Ditz — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 02:33:16 +0000

So, when you next come to California, can I take you and Grace out for coffee?

By: mdmhvonpa

mdmhvonpa — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:56:53 +0000

Oh, jeeze … could I tell you stories!

My Mrs never changed her last name … we’ll pretend it is ‘Choi’ for purposes of anonymity here. So, she’ll get a call when away on business or I’ll take the kids to a doctor appt where they are on the Mrs’s health care plan and I’ll be addressed as Mr Choi. Now, being of Nordic genetic origin, you should see the confusion on the faces when they actually see me. It’s a hoot!

By: Cottontimer

Cottontimer — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 08:59:04 +0000

Grace: I should be saying the same to you! Thanks for engaging in this really interesting, and important conversation.

Kerri: In some ways it must be harder for people who actually look like everyone else because people then think it’s ok to say whatever because you couldn’t possibly be of THAT ethnic group.

Rosie: I think you’re totally right. I might not stick out immediately while in England but when I’m in Asia, it’s very clear that I’m not local. Just my loud laugh alone…. And what a crazy story about that guy thinking you were French. I feel like punching him.

Kailani: Hawaii is such an interesting ethnic mix. But yet people still find manage to define exclusionary criteria. (banghead)

Gayla: I wonder if some apps have questions about ethnicity b/c they have to prove that they’re providing equal service? Not sure…. Because I’m so obviously Chinese/Asian, I just fill it out because they’re going to discriminate whether or not I check the box. I haven’t sensed any overt discrimination ever, so hopefully most people are aware that I’ll clean their clock if they try it. hehehee

By: Gayla

Gayla — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 12:29:48 +0000

This is one of those topic that always confuses me. Should I? Shouldn’t I?

Thanks for bringing this up. I’ll admit, I do get a little peeved being asked this question on job applications, loan applications and the like.

I just don’t think that should matter when you’re looking at the complete picture. Like QUALIFICATIONS for example

By: kailani

kailani — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 07:27:35 +0000

Living in Hawaii, there is a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds. It’s not really about what ethnicity you are but whether you’re local or not.

By: Rosie

Rosie — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 05:17:28 +0000

Also… I fell out with a Canadian guy in my class very early on last term, because he didn’t realise I was English. He’d missed the first day of term where everyone introduces themself, and he had based himself on the fact that the teacher asked me questions about France and french language to assume that I was French. A few days into term he asked me where in France I had studied Chinese, and when I said London, he rolled his eyes and told me he absolutely hated the English and avoided their company whenever possible. I didn’t say anything at the time, just raised an eyebrow, but I think he felt rather uncomfortable when he realised in due course that I am actually English…

By: Rosie

Rosie — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 05:14:05 +0000

You know it’s funny but I’ve developed some sort of sense for recognising where an ethnically Asian person comes from, not just whether they are Korean/Chinese/Japan/Thai/Indonesian etc. (*SO* easy for me now), but also if they are huaqiao and if so, what country they are from (or at least what continent). So on Saturday I immediately noticed one of the 40+ Chinese students in the room with me was definitely North American huaqiao. I leaned over to my neighbour, an Indonesian huaqiao, and whispered “She’s GOT to be huaqiao, either America or Canada.” He disagreed but sure enough, she was Canadian.

Similarly, watching a random English football match, I noticed a black player who was undisputedly French to my eyes. I asked my friend and he was very surprised to confirm it was indeed the case. There’s something in people’s body language and facial expressions which tends to give away their “cultural ethnicity”.

By: Kerri

Kerri — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 16:35:21 +0000

I agree, I’d always rather people ask me than assume. Though, it would usually be better to do so before you insult people who share my ethnicity. Of course, by then you won’t need to ask, because I’ll have already pointed out the insult to you.