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?

It is excluding other minorities as well as white people.

@ManifestDestinee

You didn't mention the UK. And women are not a minority in the UK, so.....

Despite women being equal(ish) in number to men in the UK, women are in the minority in terms of positions of power and influence eg c-suite jobs, university professorships, MPs, judges etc. that's the point.

If they share the house with a flat mate from the same cultural background they know that it’s highly unlikely they will encounter the issue of boyfriends/ partners staying in their flat

This is a very prejudiced statement in itself

@mrschocolatte

“that’s a poor example. Eating bacon is not about cultural compatibility - some people (and this includes white British people too!) don’t eat it because they hate it or their religion forbids it.”

Surely that would still be an example of incompatibility for religious reasons though? Does that class as cultural? If I hate fish I wouldn’t mind someone else I live with eating or cooking it for themselves. It’s when people try and dictate how others live based on their own lifestyle/religion etc that could cause tensions I imagine in a shared house. Hence why I mentioned cultural compatibility.

I'm Jewish and if I were to seek a lodger, I would prefer a Jewish one. A non-Jew would find a lot of the stuff we do weird. It's more about familiarity than discrimination.

@Mulletsaremisunderstood

“When I was looking for accommodation in Canada, many of the ads we’re like dating websites - ‘looking for an open minded, attractive woman’ etc. it was ridiculous!”

Eew that would make me run for the hills

Despite women being equal(ish) in number to men in the UK, women are in the minority in terms of positions of power and influence eg c-suite jobs, university professorships, MPs, judges etc. that's the point

No, that is not the point, since that is neither what was said, or implied, or is in anyone relevant to the thread.

anyway

@ManifestDestinee

Despite women being equal(ish) in number to men in the UK, women are in the minority in terms of positions of power and influence eg c-suite jobs, university professorships, MPs, judges etc. that's the point

No, that is not the point, since that is neither what was said, or implied, or is in anyone relevant to the thread.

This thread is ultimately about discrimination. If women are equal in number to men, but occupy far fewer positions of power or influence, what is that if not discrimination?

@Ajl46

Not sure how a women only gym class will address that though?!

Surely it’s more to do with feeling less self conscious on exercising or not having men possibly leering at them?

@mustlovegin

If they share the house with a flat mate from the same cultural background they know that it’s highly unlikely they will encounter the issue of boyfriends/ partners staying in their flat

This is a very prejudiced statement in itself

So it’s prejudiced to say that there are cultures that have different values then Western countries have and therefore have a different outlook on premarital sex/ relationships? How on earth is that prejudiced

Or saying that any Asian woman is a chaste little petal and non Asians are going to have men staying over. What a very... generalising statement.

@KittenKong

Or saying that any Asian woman is a chaste little petal and non Asians are going to have men staying over. What a very... generalising statement.

You are being goady for the sake of being goady and derailing the thread. I did not say that and you’re twisting my words.

I'd understand if it was "Muslim preferred" for a lodger In their home (they want someone familiar/who shares their culture), but just putting "Asian" makes me feel uncomfortable.

Not all Asians are the same, so it's not a cultural reason, in that case.

Not being goady - how else could it be interpreted?

Let’s start with what I said @KittenKong.
I said there are cultures in this world, including SOME in Asia where men / women relationships are different and it’s inappropriate to have men staying over (that would include boyfriends or partners from flatmates). If these women feel uncomfortable about that, does that automatically mean that they’re chaste little petals? I didn’t say that, those are your words. Which sound very disrespectful towards women that hold these values.

Also you say ANY Asian woman.
You do realize that Asia is a huge continent and that the culture and values hugely differ per country? That let’s say, Bangladesh is very different from Japan in terms of culture?

You sound very racist.
But

But ofcourse you’re going to deny that.
Fine. It’s clear to me what your agenda is and I won’t engage in any further discussion with you. It’s utterly pointless.

I’ve house shared and would have no issue with these ad’s. Saves a lot of time wasting, imagine you visit a property, love it but they don’t want you.

Years ago it was Saffers only

Well. Having most of my family from/living in the ME I would never have known that. We are talking about people living in the U.K. here are we not.

So apologies if I reacted to a part of what you said that’s was quoted that sounded rather like a generalisation of Asian women being one particular way. But calling me racist?

[quote Lollipop40]@Ajl46

Not sure how a women only gym class will address that though?!

Surely it’s more to do with feeling less self conscious on exercising or not having men possibly leering at them?[/quote]
Absolutely! The aim of women only classes is presumably so that women feel empowered to attend when they otherwise would not. Men's sport is still sadly far more embedded at grass roots levels but that is changing... gradually....

@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?

They were a racist who only wanted to live with "someone from their own culture"?

I can see what you mean but at the same time it wouldn't bother me they are looking for someone from the same culture as them presumably. I think in some ways if they are only going to choose an Asian person than it saves non Asians wasting their time! But I don't think you can compare it to white only - you could compare it to more a culture thing like only other Americans can apply.
I am speculating that is most likely linked to food and I am guessing if someone advertised for other vegans only that would be OK?

Why would that make them racist though @LaetitiaASD ?

It doesn't bother me at all, in the area I live you see it alot on adverts. I'm surprised some people think it's universally innocuous though. Some people just don't want to integrate and whilst I, again, don't really have a problem with it and think it's up to them if they want to or not, I don't think it's the way to a successful multicultural society. I know people who've lived here for decades and barely speak English

Adverts I see containing this are often dual language, so say Tamil and English, I guess the point of putting it in English is they're not being totally exclusive,

@Lollipop40

Why would that make them racist though *@LaetitiaASD* ?

Surely the entire definition of racism is making decision based on race, when race should be irrelevant?

I do get it's difficult. If I were in a house share again I would certainly want people who were a good fit culturally... I'd guess that my likely housemate would be white... they'd also probably be a bit arty and a bit left wing, and if they were working class they'd be aspirational working class, not defiantly working class. But my guess that they would be white is simply a guess - it is perfectly possible that a black person would be my kinda person and be the perfect housemate - and it would be racist of me to advertise for a white housemate or assume someone is not a good fit because they're not white.

I'd also want someone sensible and rational and not superstitious... which rules out anyone who believes in god in my view, but advertising for atheists isn't acceptable either.