Sick of ignorant people re my religion

It’s very interesting that you picked up on this. And there is actually a reason why Sikhs tend to have more almond shaped eyes. As well as some other characteristics.

Many Sikhs belong to the Jatt ethnic group. And jatts have very significant genetic contributions from Central Asia/steppe (the highest in South Asia in fact) a result of the Indo-European migrations that took place around 1500 BCE. Jatts typically have around 25-35% steppe DNA. Much higher than anyone expected. There’s numerous theories as to why this may be - did they just mix less with other populations? Are jatts a product of a subsequent Indo European migration into India? The Scythians perhaps? Very possible due to the fact that Jatts’ homeland is in the very North of India. There have been many migrations/invasions into this part of the world

Fascinating!

(My phd touched on Central Asian migrations)

No she’s not asking Danish people to correctly identify what religion she is, she simply
does not appreciate the assumption they her skin colour means she is Muslim.

I’m not sure what I’m missing here.

The OP is pissed off, that, due to the colour of her skin / ethnicity, She was assumed to be a certain religion. A perfectly valid reason to be annoyed about, if it’s a regular occurrence.

Irrespective of the Danish culture being direct and forward, can you not see how this pisses the OP off?

I fully agree, we should adopt to the ways and culture of another country if we are visitors or reside there, but how does this excuse this assumption that skin colour equates to a certain religion, smacks of Ignorance to me.

We're telling Danes not to assume all brown people are Muslim. That's something anyone can do. It's actually really really easy. You just don't do it.

The thing is, there are multiple Irish accents.

And many different looking 'brown people'.

Telling an RC from a protestant in NI isn't really anything to do with accent either.

And telling whether a person believes in a particular religion, or none, has very little to do with their skin colour.

The OP expects Danes to do something that the vast majority of British people (outside of NI) wouldn't be able to do wrt people in their own country.*

No, the only thing she wishes they'd do is something anyone is capable of. Simply, not making an assumption based purely on her colour. She doesn't expect them to know she's a Sikh.

Some people will take offense at anything. As a white non Christian I would not take offensive at all. I celebrate Christmas despite not being Christian.

The thing is, there are multiple Irish accents.

Telling an RC from a protestant in NI isn't really anything to do with accent either.

The OP expects Danes to do something that the vast majority of British people (outside of NI) wouldn't be able to do wrt people in their own country.

Would you be able to identify Catholics from Protestants in Nortnern Ireland? I'm pretty sure I would.

If you couldn't though...the equivalent here is that someone who can't hears an Irish accent and makes an assumption one way or the other. That'd be sure to go down well.

Neither am I, fwiw.

But expecting people from different cultures to interact with you as if they were members of your culture is preposterous.

I don't expect British people to adopt Irish manners or ways of interacting when I'm in their company, in the UK. I adapt to them.

Yeah, the Danes would love being told they're not behaving in a sufficiently British manner.

When in Denmark...

...be straightforward.

Answer questions directly.
Respond matter ofnfactly to comments.

That may be because you have a good deal of experience of the cultures and people ME or India.

Can you not accept that the Danes do not, for many reasons?

Would you be able to identify Catholics from Protestants in Nortnern Ireland? I'm pretty sure I would.

Ok, but I’m not British.

That's a very British attitude.

The Danes are not British.

Expecting a British sense of what anyone should or shouldn't ask is more than a bit Little Englandish.

@mathanxiety

To their credit, they're asking so they can find out - they're not assuming.
Why are they asking at all? When was the last time you asked people what religion they were? I can't think when I last might have and there would have been a very specific context.

Because they're very direct (being Scandinavian) and ask personal questions that would make a Brit blush. Also, they possibly have an inkling that she may not be Muslim and they're curious.

Not "plenty". Some. A very small number.

The Danes are seeing in the OP what they are familiar with. South Asians are Muslims, as far as they're concerned. To their credit, they're asking so they can find out - they're not assuming.

Though, overall, the anti Islamic feeling in Denmark really is racist.

It accounts for the questions, which she would know if she did some research. And she should do the research if her husband thinks it's a good idea to live there.

Pp is right, Danish people don't have much historical context to go on when it comes to some cultures.

They do have some recent context though, and they want to know if you're Muslim because there is a certain negative view of Muslims in Danish society. (Re: "recent history" remark).

Ah, pet, did you skip politics, ethics and sociology too? Pointing out that the curriculum in the England tends to happily skip over colonialism and other awkward aspects of British ( mostly English) history is t racist.

But British people do get asked about their religion because members of Church of England call themselves protestants but some of the rituals look very Catholic to Danes. Since British television series are often shown in Denmark people know about the rituals and wonder about them.

You see again from a UK perspective telling someone to "go home" because you disagree with them would be quite racist.

If the DH's friends or family are likely to visit here then the OP might like to get them up to speed on when and how to ask about religion in the UK - at least enough that they won't cause trouble for the OP or get themselves arrested.

The whole point of this thread is that the op is unsure if it's a good idea to move to a country where she regularly experiences casual racism from her own family.
So far the narrative has been;

1. no Denmark isn't racist
2. well even if they are that's just the culture and you can't change it

In a similar situation I didn't move to my DH's home country. We didn't stay in University town either but instead looked at places in the UK with good transport links to both home country and home region. Then narrowed it down by considering suitable job prospects for us both and finally considered what hobbies we have. We found somewhere that suits us and is cheaper than London.
@Loisep Could you make a similar list and then start a thread on asking for ideas for where to live near towns XY and Z?

@MumChp

Tbh I think people ask because they know Islam. They can't ask if you are Sikh as it wouldn't be a religion most Danes know about.
I can't think when I last asked what if any religion someone was

This thread honestly. If you don’t understand why the OP as a Sikh is upset at constantly being asked if she’s Muslim you need to go and do some reading.

I suspect you look like my friend in college. Absolutely can pass for anything. I had absolutely no idea she was Indian until we were discussing racism one day and the tutor asked how she deals with racism as an Indian. I lived a pretty sheltered existence I guess.

YANBU to have reservations about moving somewhere where there is less familiarity and understanding of your religion than where you currently live and I think it’s understandable to factor that into your decision making. It’s also understandable to feel frustrated by people making incorrect assumptions about your religion based on your appearance. But unfortunately there’s not much you can do about it if you do want to move to Denmark but accept they just don’t have the same cultural references as the UK and the average person isn’t as aware of certain cultures and religions as they might be here.

This reminds me of a conversation I had years ago with a colleague from the US. I asked if she was Sikh as she’d mentioned her middle name in passing and I knew from a friend at school that it was a common Sikh name. She was really surprised and said nobody back home in the US knew much about Sikhism at all. Which I remember finding really strange at the time as the basics are covered pretty well in primary schools here.

Why?

Uhm. The Inuit people of Greenland arrived later than the Scandinavians.