Racist attitudes of another Asian sect

[Laura2121]

If this thread is deemed inappropriate, I apologise and am happy for it to be reported and taken down.

I was born and bred in London. Being a multicultural city, I have worked with and known several Chinese people in my life.

I have found these people to be quite difficult to work with as a woman of colour, because I have seen the common theme/pattern that a lot of Chinese people seem to have, which are ‘white-worshipping’ and ‘colour-hating’ views.

I have always been treated significantly differently to my white friends/colleagues when we are altogether amongst Chinese individuals, and with the overtness of that, I find it disgusting.

I know that one cannot just assign racial prejudice to a particular group of people like that, but within this group I find it quite prominent and frankly I’d say that they are unapologetically racist! I have a Chinese friend in his 60’s who was trying to rationalise Chinese racist attitudes with me when we were having coffee the other day, but naturally, he was unable to answer some simple questions of mine where I asked why he makes assumptions about certain things and more widely, why that attitude still exists today.

Anyone else on South Asian Mumsnet gets have good/bad experience of this?

I can't think of any 2 ethnicities where it can't be said from history or anecdote that there weren't any racial prejudices, tensions and discrimination. Colourism exists within the same ethnicity. However, I think it's bigoted to lump all Chinese people in this category even if you had several experiences, as there are over a billion Chinese persons in China alone.

My cousin studied Medicine in China and apparently it was so racist they wouldn’t allow her to touch patients during hospital rounds.

Saying that, I’ve seen a lot of overt racism from South Asians themselves!

Racism towards white people; immigrant parents worrying their children will become “too Westernised” despite living in a Western country.

A LOT of anti-blackness.

Adults openly calling some children ugly for having dark skin and praising light skin tones.

I’ve seen Pakistanis being prejudiced towards Bangladeshis. Bangladeshis being prejudiced towards Indians. Muslims being derogatory about Hindus.

A Hindu friend refused to even think about dating a Muslim guy she really liked because her parents would never accept it.

It’s rampant! But I do think attitudes have changed a lot with coming generations.

And then you get some 2nd / 3rd generation Asians who dismiss racism altogether and use their colour as a defence.

Weirdly had lots of racism from Pakistani/Bangladeshi to Indian in my last job. One lady actually said "Oh leave her alone, it's not her fault"!! I'm 40 years old, wtaf!!! Obviously had loads of racism over the years but this came as a shock, I'm extremely "Western" though, perhaps they didn't approve or were jealous?

I think this depends where they’re from in China. Traditionally Taiwanese and Cantonese people have been darker skinned (as lots of mixing between Chino-Indians). But people from the mainland tend to be from newer super cities wheren have only recently become successful and exposed to different cultures. So it will take time.

Having said that there is no reason at all why you should accept racially aggressive behaviours from people of Chinese origin at work. If someone is blatently excluding you or discriminating against you, don’t try and understand why, just file a grievance and let them explain themselves to HR.

The Hindu / Muslim thing only applies to Indian Hindus. Not others. Eg Hindu / Muslim marriages are no big deal on Thailand or Malaysia.

Not seen Chinese to south Asian racism myself first hand but the local (mostly north Indian) Asian population to my old work were openly racist about Eastern Europeans especially the large number of Roma men that had moved into the area living in very overcrowded shared housing. Their somewhat justifiable complaint was street drinking and street brawls but the tone was really derogatory. One of my main contacts did understand the irony at least, of him saying they should go home.

In my lifetime for 95% or more of the time everyone does get along but intolerance isn't one way and we all, whatever our ethnicity need to be understanding of others, then the world will be a better place