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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is this racism

185 replies

prettyprettyflowers · 21/05/2018 12:52

Very senior manager was told off by HR for doing a mocking Chinese accent when talking about a trip to a Chinese restaurant in a senior meeting.
She then recounts story with same accent in different meeting as well as how funny it was HR told her off for it.

It Bothers me. But am I the only one?

OP posts:
KaliforniaDreamz · 21/05/2018 13:43

Yes it's racist.

Ohlalasayohla · 21/05/2018 14:09

I don't like it. I'm the only non English person working in an all English environment. They are always speaking at me in my accent - or rather their crappy versions of it. And asking if I have eaten a particular food (still no, even after all these years).
Oh but it's banter.

Metoodear · 21/05/2018 14:11

If you were entering Chinese clients would the accent have been done if not then you know the answe

TammySwansonTwo · 21/05/2018 14:18

Nothing more depressing than the responses on a MN “was this racist?” thread.

Of course it was fucking racist. And if people don’t understand why it’s different from imitating and American or Australian accent, they need to do some reading on the matter.

troodiedoo · 21/05/2018 14:23

Yes racist. And it doesn't matter if Chinese people were present or not!

I would report her, maybe stronger action from hr will make her think about her behaviour.

WalkingOnAFlashlightBeam · 21/05/2018 14:26

Yes, it's racist.

And she's also incredibly dim to think it's becoming of a senior manager.

SendintheArdwolves · 21/05/2018 14:35

Yes, it's racist. And incase people need it spelling out, imitating the accent/appearance/culture of a group which suffers discrimination because of their race/culture is NOT THE SAME as putting on the accent of a group traditionally free of oppression on the grounds of race, such asaAmerican/Australian/etc.

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast · 21/05/2018 14:37

" My best friend is Welsh and if ever I'm re telling one of her stories I do it in a (bad) Welsh accent. "

why would you do that? just why? Is Welshness the final acceptable frontier of racism?
Being 'mixed race' doesn't immunise you against being a racist.

Gilead · 21/05/2018 14:40

Yes, it's racist.

steppemum · 21/05/2018 14:46

I think it is highly offensive. And the person has been pulled up by HR for it and the DOES IT AGAIN!
That says it all really.

Not sure if the right term is racist. It would be offensive to mimic a Birmingham accent etc to. Mocking people in a public setting is offensive. You can only really do it when you are mocking yourself, or when the underlying story turns out to be against you and in favour of the other person.

This isn't a comedy club where the rules may (and I say may because it is a grey line) be different, it is a work setting and so no, not on.

RubiaPTA · 21/05/2018 14:49

Nope people do is to my accent all the time. Only way it would be is if she said something racist

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast · 21/05/2018 14:53

but imitating accents in a 'jokey' way IS racist in itself.

Like Jim Davidson doing that 'ding ding move up the bus' thing. Back in the 1970s.

RubiaPTA · 21/05/2018 14:54

Also accents aren't a race ...

zzzzz · 21/05/2018 14:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Gilead · 21/05/2018 15:02

Also accents aren't a race ...
Don't be so silly, of course it's racist.

DotForShort · 21/05/2018 15:04

Of course it’s racist. How could there be any doubt?

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast · 21/05/2018 15:05

" Also accents aren't a race ..."

well in fact nor are skin colours...but that is not the point.
Speaking as a person with an Irish parent, yes it is offensive.
Why do people think it is hiliarious to shout 'potatoes potatoes' in a fake Irish accent?
Because they are racist dicks.

heateallthebuns · 21/05/2018 15:05

Imitating any accent in a mocking way is offensive I would say, and racist in this context.

ClaryFray · 21/05/2018 15:05

Offensive yes.
Racist no.

steppemum · 21/05/2018 15:07

Imitating any accent in a mocking way is offensive I would say, and racist in this context.

nicely put, spot on

wormery · 21/05/2018 15:07

Racist, offensive, ignorant and unprofessional. She sounds a delight.

GalwayWayfarer · 21/05/2018 15:08

Are PPs ignoring the 'mocking' part? Of course this is racist! Not surprised you felt uncomfortable OP

MirriVan · 21/05/2018 15:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

busybarbara · 21/05/2018 15:10

Yes. This is why Little Britain is no longer shown on TV despite being wildly popular just 10 years ago. All that "Ting Tong" stuff, the Denver Mills jokes, the Welsh characters..

Failingat40 · 21/05/2018 15:10

racism
[rey-siz-uh m]
noun
1 a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human racial groups determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others.
2 a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

I would hazard a guess that it could be mildly racist going by 1.

It was certainly very silly and bad judgement by them both to think it was an appropriate thing to joke about in the workplace.

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