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?

[quote Lollipop40]@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.[/quote]
You are confusing religion and culture. These are two different things.

My sister in law is a vegetarian and wouldn’t live with a meat eater if you paid her. That has nothing to do with religion or culture - just her personal beliefs and values. I lived in flatshares in London for over 15 years. I lived with a lot of people with different beliefs to me but I just learnt to accept and get on with it. They lived there lives free from judgment from me and vice versa. But when I used to go looking for flat shares you could see the disappointment in their eyes when they saw me. I even had one person say to me - “but you sounded so English on the phone” Er, just because I’m brown don’t mean I’m not English! Personally I don’t agree with adverts that specify but I do get why people might do it to stop wasting other people’s time. But of all the things to be pissed off with in life - this isn’t one of them.

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."

This.

@LaetitiaASD

Yes I agree with everything you say, I would be the same and would also want someone who was culturally a “good fit” for me. I wouldn’t care what colour they were but would care that we would both feel comfortable to live our lives the way we chose without being judged by the other.

I suppose I disagree that wanting to share with someone from your own culture is racist. I think it’s understandable for many of the reasons already mentioned.

@ittakes2

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?

Those are good points, ittakes2.

I don't see a problem with looking for a housemate who is same/similar background to the current residents, in fact it makes some good sense. That said, the ads specifying 'Asian' are not being specific enough to justify it that way. As one or two other pp have suggested, it looks like anti black racism.

I think it's fine. Sharing with other people is hard enough when you all have the same expectations. My sharing years have gone by but it's easier if people are upfront about the flatmate they want. Vegan/ female/male/ gay/teetotal/ easygoing/ asian whatever saves wasting time.

Obviously it doesn't always work but I always went for house shares with people who I'd expect to have similar values and expectations to me.

There is a hella lot of hate between minorities. Pps have very good points there. Racism is not just something white people can do. My ME friends could sometimes give EDL good competition... Ao yes, it can very well be aimed at others than "just white people". And whoof at some of the stuff certain EE community sometimes pops out (and these are people who apparently emigrated due to racism...).

It can also very simply be a case of looking for similarly minded and same in culture housemage, with prevalence of locals, I can see why the ad would say that. If I put up advert I will end up (based on demographics) with absolute majority of white British. Nothing wrong with them, but sometimes it's just preferable to have your own group members at home. IYSWIM

[quote Lollipop40]@LaetitiaASD

Yes I agree with everything you say, I would be the same and would also want someone who was culturally a “good fit” for me. I wouldn’t care what colour they were but would care that we would both feel comfortable to live our lives the way we chose without being judged by the other.

I suppose I disagree that wanting to share with someone from your own culture is racist. I think it’s understandable for many of the reasons already mentioned.[/quote]
I think that it is perfectly fine to want a good cultural fit, and to believe that the good cultural fit is likely to involve someone from the same culture... but I think that assuming that everyone who is not from your culture will not be a good cultural fit is racist.

Also, sorry, but when I went to view a flat in my student days and the door had "honkeys get out" sprayed on it - that was racist (and us three white students didn't take the flat!!!) I appreciate that structural and societal racism is much worse than individual cases against members of a white majority, but minorities can be racist against their oppressors.

It is the same with sexism where positive discrimination for women is not "sexism."

This is difficult. Where's the limit? If there is sufficient positive discrimination, at some point it could become negative discrimination against previously non-discriminated groups?

Also, in an employment context, employers would need to be careful, otherwise it could be challenged in Court under the Equality Act

Doesn't seem like racism to me, it's not a job or anything, it's just people wanting to houseshare with someone from the same culture, maybe who speak the same language, etc.

If it's the case of just wanting to be around them for race reasons then yeah I would think it's racist - hence the difference between 'whites preferred' and 'Canadians/Australians/Polish people preferred'

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?

You're doing that thing white people do when you think all Asians have one culture. What do you think a lad from Iran has in common with a young woman from Japan, for example? What food, religion, cultural values do you think they share? Or someone from Pakistan with someone from Thailand? Etc etc.
"Asians" are the majority of people on earth and are many many different and very varied cultures.
Asian only doesn't even really mean anything, its that vast.

*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*

I am sure you could think of similar reasons why one would only want to live with white people only or exclude Asians from an advert on the idea that many wouldn't drink booze because of Religion etc. Eitherway that wouldn't fly.

Sorry but your post reminded me of this classic

@MissyMooKins

Yabu that's not racist. I'm neither asain or white and wouldn't be offended by that. I actually understand that. They want someone from their culture theres nothing wrong with that.

I am not offended by it and I also understand it.

But it is still illegal.

OP when I posted earlier I asked if you could link to some examples of the ads.

Given that in a houseshare the people already there just pick whoever they think fits, and that's normal. I don't see why these ads are needed esp as they are likely illegal as others have said.

I suppose then ads for a houseshare looking for a woman have the same dynamic going on.

Examples would be really useful.

I also mentioned the expose on the telly about widespread racism with lettings. The clients and the agents.

Given the topic and that expose (it was on the news too) that feels like a larger problem tbh. Given the sizes of various populations and the dynamics etc.

Sorry not caught up so maybe already mentioned.

Asian is a very broad term.

If they want a person from a similar culture wouldn't it be more specific?

I mean it could mean any number of countries. Some of which the people from can have (IME) a not great view of. So it would be a silly ad.

Chinese?
Thai?
Indian?
Pakistani?
Japanese?
Southern parts of Russia?

Strange.

Of course this is an advert in English. I've seen adverts in other languages in windows in London. Lord knows what they say if they're using a different alphabet ...

@NiceGerbil

Sorry not caught up so maybe already mentioned.

Asian is a very broad term.

If they want a person from a similar culture wouldn't it be more specific?

I mean it could mean any number of countries. Some of which the people from can have (IME) a not great view of. So it would be a silly ad.

Chinese?
Thai?
Indian?
Pakistani?
Japanese?
Southern parts of Russia?

Strange.

Asian means south Asian in the U.K.

Generally sure and certainly used to in general conversation. But most people would say someone from China was Asian surely. And the way Chinese is used by so many people to mean Asian not from India etc is pretty rubbish.

If you were from Asia and you wanted people from your neck of the woods for whatever reason and you were going to put in advert surely you'd be a bit more specific?

Have OP given any examples?

If it's hand written adverts in the newsagent window. I mean it seems very trivial to get in a strop about tbh.

@NiceGerbil

Generally sure and certainly used to in general conversation. But most people would say someone from China was Asian surely. And the way Chinese is used by so many people to mean Asian not from India etc is pretty rubbish.

If you were from Asia and you wanted people from your neck of the woods for whatever reason and you were going to put in advert surely you'd be a bit more specific?

Chinese people tend to make adverts in Chinese language .

South Asians tend to write in English

@NiceGerbil

Have OP given any examples?

If it's hand written adverts in the newsagent window. I mean it seems very trivial to get in a strop about tbh.

I've seen these online on rightmove, not just handwritten

Plus the phrasing is a little off. Putting 'Asian' rather than specifying a particular religion or ethnic group. I dont think many would object to "Tamil preferred" or similar as it's obviously about having someone with similar values.

"Asian" is nota culture. Could easily be seen as exclusive to black or white people, in a non direct way.

South Asians all have a somewhat similar culture and are familiar with each other’s cultures, despite religion.
Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims and Christian Asians all ‘get’ each other generally.

@DayKay

South Asians all have a somewhat similar culture and are familiar with each other’s cultures, despite religion. Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims and Christian Asians all ‘get’ each other generally.

“Get” each other.

You mean they don’t mix with whites

Why would you assume they wouldn’t mix with Whites? What a stupid assumption.