Someone just called me 'ghetto'...

[Parmina]

I'm mixed race black and Caucasian, have afro hair pulled in to a bun and a head wrap on (pretty much my go to style), small gold hoop earrings and am wearing a black knee length pencil skirt with a plain black hoodie and silver pumps.

Walked by 2 women on the stairs at the train station and heard one clearly direct at me "she's a bit 'ghetto' looking for " and they both laughed and walked off.

I may have got this completely wrong, but before I jump to conclusions, why on earth would they think I looked 'ghetto'?

AIBU to be sensing a racist undertone? Or is that my paranoia kicking in?

Never been called ghetto before...

But Birds, ops job status and house status was very relevant to the conversation. As pp said ghettos are poor deprived areas.

What a air of absolute idiots. I’d have been tempted to give them a mouthful (it’s my ghetto upbringing 😆) but glad you had the good sense to ignore these racist twats.

@Elephant14 I'm actually from London but at 30 weeks pregnant I contained my inner ninja

Cross post.

Op i hope they didnt put too much of a dampner on your day. You really sound great.

My white daughter will call her mixed race brother ghetto and because they are siblings there's no problem. If anyone called her mixed race brother that and they were white, she'd be absolutely furious with the racist connotation associated with it and probably rip their heads off.

What assholes.
For the record, I’d love to be wearing what you had on! Sounds gorgeous.
Jealous, racist lowlifes is what you had the displeasure of coming across.

@WhirlyGigWhirlyGig that would be a problem in my house...

Racist, ignorant twats. Don’t give them headspace.

They’re racist idiots. You’re super stylish.

I don't think it's necessarily about your race in the straightforward sense (I would imagine they would say the same about a white woman dressed that way) but more about unusual style combined with you not desperately trying to make yourself look more white. Think about it, if a black woman isn't dressed like Jackie Kennedy people immediately come out with this shit. I think you need to practice your snob face OP. Nothing more satisfying than being able to convey the message 'I am better than you your ignorant shit.' with actually going as low as to actually say it aloud.

I don't think it's necessarily about your race in the straightforward sense (I would imagine they would say the same about a white woman dressed that way)

They may well say it about a white woman dressing that way but because they associate with a black way of dressing. So still racist.

That’s a bit like saying “wigger” isn’t racist because black people don’t get called it.

Or that “don’t be a pussy” isn’t misogynistic because it’s something said to boys/men.

What a fucking horrible pair .

Gruesome Twosome . Ignore .

Your outfit sounds nice OP .

@Parmina they're both adults and I'm not privy to most of their conversations via text message, so I can't really stop them.

If it happens again you could reply 'Yeah, well we all know what your type do to the ghettos".

@WhirlyGigWhirlyGig sorry I jumped to the conclusion that they were children! Of course, I wouldn't have that conversation with any of my white family members but absolutely, you can't control what they say (though my parents would absolutely still kick off if my sibling said this to me )

@Lokibear . Brilliant, just brilliant!

Stupid, racist, twats.

Sorry you encountered this small minded racism. Their behaviour was shameful

However there also might have been something else behind it - a rather sad competitiveness that some women show towards other women. From your description I imagine you looked pretty good - perhaps that is what provoked the 'cutting you down to size' remark

You sound flipping fabulous Parmina, and a lot more stylish than I could evenly have hoped to be, 30 weeks pregnant or not! Head high, and don’t worry about the vapid, racist thoughts of veritable pond scum.

could ever hope to be*

Nasty women tbh.
'ghetto looking' my fat arse. x.

Holy fuck.
I really really hope the karma pony kicks them where it hurts.

I was called white trash on my first week in Birmingham as a student!

How rude! Some people are horrible.
Congrats on the baby op! X

How nasty of them to make that comment, and within earshot - I bet you looked amazing, and they were jealous of seeing someone who could style themselves.

Maybe one day one of them will turn up for a job interview when you are on the interview panel —evil laugh—

I don't think what those women said could be interpreted any other way that racist, could it?