I've heard from friends of friends who were at oxbridge that the level of racism against asians and orientals were quite high. Is this true?
Its more a subtle type rather than an outspoken type. I.e. excluding them from certain activities, ignoring them, giving condescending/patronizing remarks?
I've heard from friends of friends who were at oxbridge that the level of racism against asians and orientals were quite high. Is this true?
Its more a subtle type rather than an outspoken type. I.e. excluding them from certain activities, ignoring them, giving condescending/patronizing remarks?
I would say that:
- BBCs etc are treated exactly the same as everyone else. I've never seen any evidence for exclusion or even any kind of jokey banter
- A LOT of the international Asians form their own little ghettos and refuse to speak English. And I mean a LOT. This generally happens in or before freshers week, so long before anyone else has much chance to speak to them. From this I guess I could extrapolate that it's entirely possible that there are some internationals who don't want to do this, but because a lot of students have tried and failed to make friends with the others they just don't bother. That said, I've certainly never heard anything in the way of the ignoring / condescending remarks etc
I've never seen any, which doesn't mean it doesn't exist (since I'm not Asian) but does mean that it's almost certainly lower level than in the general population (since I have seen racism there).
I find that we don't see the majority of oriental applicants as they make their own friends with people from similar places (or at least they appear to) the ones which wish to socialise however do so just like anyone else.
I would say that:
- BBCs etc are treated exactly the same as everyone else. I've never seen any evidence for exclusion or even any kind of jokey banter
- A LOT of the international Asians form their own little ghettos and refuse to speak English. And I mean a LOT. This generally happens in or before freshers week, so long before anyone else has much chance to speak to them. From this I guess I could extrapolate that it's entirely possible that there are some internationals who don't want to do this, but because a lot of students have tried and failed to make friends with the others they just don't bother. That said, I've certainly never heard anything in the way of the ignoring / condescending remarks etc
This is a problem....Refusing point plank to even talk to someone of another nationality/ethnicity sucks balls
Went for a masterclass to Cam on saturday....Not many people seemed racist at all, and i'm usually the first one to spot them....But the South East Asians are in their own clicks
This is a problem....Refusing point plank to even talk to someone of another nationality/ethnicity sucks balls
Went for a masterclass to Cam on saturday....Not many people seemed racist at all, and i'm usually the first one to spot them....But the South East Asians are in their own clicks
kind of agree south east asians tend to stick together its like that at my school where there are a lot of asians, but I hang around with a group of 8 that is all asian, but im black.
kind of agree south east asians tend to stick together its like that at my school where there are a lot of asians, but I hang around with a group of 8 that is all asian, but im black.
I think it's the same in a lot of places. I know that it happens a lot in my school. They usually appear more cliquey than they actually are- they're usaully fine if you actually talk to them, but it just looks like they only speak to each other.
I think it's the same in a lot of places. I know that it happens a lot in my school. They usually appear more cliquey than they actually are- they're usaully fine if you actually talk to them, but it just looks like they only speak to each other.
It's not always that easy, though... During my time as an undergraduate, one of my friends was a Chinese girl who wasn't withdrawn or cliquey at all and whose English was absolutely fine. Practically all her other friends were Chinese, though, and as soon as one of them was around, she'd automatically switch to speaking Mandarin. I don't for a moment suspect they were actually doing it on purpose; they probably did it without thinking (on some occasions they even addressed me in Mandarin by mistake), but every time that happened, it was terribly awkward and I felt as though I had been thoroughly put in my place.
It's not always that easy, though... During my time as an undergraduate, one of my friends was a Chinese girl who wasn't withdrawn or cliquey at all and whose English was absolutely fine. Practically all her other friends were Chinese, though, and as soon as one of them was around, she'd automatically switch to speaking Mandarin. I don't for a moment suspect they were actually doing it on purpose; they probably did it without thinking (on some occasions they even addressed me in Mandarin by mistake), but every time that happened, it was terribly awkward and I felt as though I had been thoroughly put in my place.
Yeah I've experienced that. It's definetly hard when you friends with people in different friendships groups and you don't know any of their friends. That doesnt just apply to race though; if you're friends with one of the rugby team (the rest of whom you don't know), but then all his mates come up to you, start with in jokes etc, it's going to be awkward.
I would say that:
- BBCs etc are treated exactly the same as everyone else. I've never seen any evidence for exclusion or even any kind of jokey banter
- A LOT of the international Asians form their own little ghettos and refuse to speak English. And I mean a LOT. This generally happens in or before freshers week, so long before anyone else has much chance to speak to them. From this I guess I could extrapolate that it's entirely possible that there are some internationals who don't want to do this, but because a lot of students have tried and failed to make friends with the others they just don't bother. That said, I've certainly never heard anything in the way of the ignoring / condescending remarks etc
My tute partner once said something incredibly offensive but that was more ignorance than actual racism. When I told him it was offensive, he was apologetic and explained why he'd said it. I explained why it was wrong and it's never happened again.
I'd say there's a lot more iffy comments than actual racism at Oxford. That one experience aside and a drunken tramp shouting "GO BACK TO YOUR OWN ******* COUNTRY", all I've ever experienced/witnessed is people making dubious jokes/comments that are well meant or which they think are amusing. Such comments are made because people don't know any better, they're not meant in a nasty way. It's irritating and sometimes awkward but it's not malicious or anything.
Drunken tramp aside (and he was drunk and a tramp ), I've never encountered any actual racism
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Racism at Oxbridge
(Though it doesn't mean I think it would be)
), I've never encountered any actual racism 
