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Q: How do you define "racism" in China in employment and other aspects of daily life?
Yes, we all know that people of color are the last to be hired in China but racism here is not rude and insulting. It seems to be passive. And when I spoke to a 27 year old Chinese girl who is a neighbor and friend of mine for a year about this she does not call i "racism". She says people have a right to have "personal preferences" and can hire and date who they want to. She says their is no hatred or malice, or any bad intentions and says that a business owner has a right to pay who he wants and keep any "image" they want. This made sense to me, but in America people would get slammed and bashed for saying this. So which country has more freedom of speech and more real racism?
I also notice the discrimination when visa are renewed. White people get 3 and 6 month extensions while most black and brown people get 30 day extensions. This I think is a case of racism.
Also, when I walk down the street arm in arm with my Chinese girlfriend I hear a lot of rude comments and one guy even threw a water bottle at me and shouted "Go with your own white devil girl". To me this is more racist than a school not choosing to hire a Pakistani or black teacher. I guess I am saying that there must be "malice" involved to be real racism. I am white and am not affected in my work. Maybe my colleagues out there that are Latino, Indian, Pakistani, or black can weigh in on this issue?
I pretty much agree with what you say.
In the freedom of speech vs. freedom to choose debate. I can see both sides has its points. In the west everything has to be sooooo politically correct that it is sometimes obstructing reality. I would think for a person of any ethnic grouping, not being hired because the manager is an a-hole is a lot better than said a-hole being forced to hire the person due to laws on racism... that is, better for the person to not have to work for such an a-hole.
You are right that the racism is passive, at least in most cases, but I think that goes for everywhere in the world. There are a lot more people who would walk past a person and think something negative than those who would start yelling after people.
I do find the staring wildly racist, the fact that people are so aware of someone standing out from the crowd is just distasteful.
ScotsAlan:
I agree too. It's racism, but it's not malicious. It's ignorance.
In my home country I have come across really nasty racists. Nasty people who should know better, but decide to be bigoted.
Racism is bad in any guise of course, and things will change here. Takes time.
Look at UK tv from the 70's.... wow.
Scandinavian:
the world has come a long way since the 70ies. at least most of it has.
Political correctness is favourable in this situation. Discrimination and prejudices run deeply in all people. We have an innate desire to seek out groups of similar peers, and if this were allowed to happen without regard to the inherent (dis)advantages, then... well... China. And I'd argue it's not freedom TO discriminate (which very few people prioritize as a primary form of expression), but freedom FROM discrimination (which obviously limits the freedoms of the disadvantaged). The Chinese girl you spoke with may have had a compelling argument, but it's just a bogus excuse for bad behaviour that breaks down under scrutiny.
chamaflauge:
Agreed...just her excuse to stay away from black and brown people and to cooze over the german football team. I bet if I tried to talk with her she would give me some bitchy attitude..and wont even look my way....but she will talk to you based just on your skin tone.
Phil is right , this is China and they can drum up any silly excuse to justify discrimination.
The point is this. Why do many schools only hire whites? Because many Chinese parents only want a white teacher.
Why do Chinese parents think this way? Because the government and schools teach them to think this way. Racism.
When you look at the root you find the racism. But like I said at first, this is China.
Grumpy this kind of article will destroy your credibility, also a lot of your replies to other topics have already. I think people with common sense shouldn't be racist and shouldn't talk about topics like this. What, was it boring today and you just felt the itch to start a ridiculous topic like this?
Grumpy:
No, my point is that there IS a difference between racism and preferences. In my OP I gave two examples of racism and two of "preferences". Here in China there is a difference. Back home we have to be "politically correct" and call it all "racism". I rest my case.
ironman510:
This isn't a site to talk about this kind of touchy topic..
