Racism on room advertisements

[Suetully]

I was going through spareroom tonight and some of the ads real 'Asians preferred.' I have some recollection of reading similar ads years ago saying 'Asians only.'

AIBU to think if ads like that read 'whites only' there would be outrage?

YABU.

why?

I seen an ad on spare room once that said it was a small room so would only suit a petite person (nobody over 15 stone). I was v surprised. Yanbu

Because it is reasonable for people from ethnic minorities, who are looking for a houseshare in a country where they will almost definitely have experienced overt racism, to try and protect themselves from further racism.

I don't think I'll ever stop being bemused by people making the inverse argument r.e racism: 'If it said whites only there would be riots in the streets' for all manner of things e.g. job adverts, or slogans like 'White lives matter' etc etc. It's like watching the point fly entirely over their head each and every time.

@Brieeeeeeeeeeee

Because it is reasonable for people from ethnic minorities, who are looking for a houseshare in a country where they will almost definitely have experienced overt racism, to try and protect themselves from further racism.

⬆️⬆️⬆️ THIS!

Is it even legal?

It's not equality which is what I thought we were all working towards. I think the ad request is possibly more around culture/having something in common etc ....

In the context of housing/houses sharing, I think it's fine.

I would prefer to live with someone with similar cultural beliefs to me.

Would an advertisement for a spare room ‘Men only’ be sexist?

"Racism" is about institutions and structures of power. It doesn't work that way around because the structures do not favour them. It is the same with sexism where positive discrimination for women is not "sexism."

We'd think it fine if people said female housemate wanted (though probably not if it's 3 blokes already)

But an all female house seems reasonable to want (or all male).

I don't know about the legality of it, but some people advertise for females only or professional couples etc, purely on personal preference. It may be a lady advertising for a lodger and not wanting a male tenant, that kind of thing.
At least it's not saying ' no blacks or Irish ' like back in the horrible days of blatant disgusting racism.
I'd imagine that the advert is asking for compatible housemates or lodgers rather than a racist thing?

Yanbu op. As you can see from the previous posts there are all sorts of reasons why someone would prefer a person of their own ethnicity. And that includes white people. If someone advertised a room for whites only though they’d probably be arrested

They’ve probably experienced lodgers expressing how they struggle with the strong smell of their food, insert other microagression here. Everyone needs to be comfortable in their home. For some, this includes living with someone from the same culture. I don’t see the issue .

What would the white person’s reason for wanting to live with ‘whites only’ be?

@BrendaBubbles

"Racism" is about institutions and structures of power. It doesn't work that way around because the structures do not favour them. It is the same with sexism where positive discrimination for women is not "sexism."

That is the recent American interpretation of racism. Not the dictionary definition of actual racism.

Sick of this historically ignorant, US-centric nonsense.

@Pumpkinstace

In the context of housing/houses sharing, I think it's fine.

I would prefer to live with someone with similar cultural beliefs to me.

I agree with you, so would I.

But if a white person wanted the same, surely their advert would be deemed racist? Eg “whites preferred”

It does seem like a strange thing to put in an advertisement, imo. Surely you can just wait until someone you like as a potential housemate comes along. You don't even have to tell the rejected applicants that you didn't want them because they have hairy toes or crazy eyes or show too much gum when they smile.

Asians preferred likely means someone is looking to avoid racism

It is not equal to whites preferred as white people don't need to avoid racism unless its their own.

@UndecidedPoster

They’ve probably experienced lodgers expressing how they struggle with the strong smell of their food, insert other microagression here. Everyone needs to be comfortable in their home. For some, this includes living with someone from the same culture. I don’t see the issue .

What would the white person’s reason for wanting to live with ‘whites only’ be?

Exactly!

I thought you couldn’t specify race? A neighbour rents his flat and told me that he prefers Asian women it won’t touch Italian men with a bargepole.

@UndecidedPoster

They’ve probably experienced lodgers expressing how they struggle with the strong smell of their food, insert other microagression here. Everyone needs to be comfortable in their home. For some, this includes living with someone from the same culture. I don’t see the issue .

What would the white person’s reason for wanting to live with ‘whites only’ be?

If wanting to live with someone of the same culture is understandable for one group then surely it is understandable for the other group too though?

It’s not really an issue of colour or race.

The advert doesn't say 'Asians only' though does it. It says 'Asians preferred'.
Nothing wrong with that at all.

YANBU OP

It's double standards to deem this request acceptable for some groups but not others, surely?