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Racist people at my uni are pissing me off

I go to a Russell Group university where there are quite a lot of upper/middle-class white people from the South. Obviously, I don't have a problem with this. I'm half Asian, however, and because of this I don't look like I'm from any particular minority often born in the UK (e.g. I don't look clearly BBC or like a Pakistani girl born in the UK). People have often asked if I'm everything from Brazilian to Spanish upon meeting me. However, I've lived in England all my life, dress perfectly normally and consider myself British. I am sick and tired of the casual racism I face on a day-to-day basis at uni.

I've been at uni for three years (I'm doing a long course) and the amount of casual racism I face here (compared to in my home city where ethnic minorities are very common) is absolutely disgusting. I have a lot of international friends as well and they often encounter it too, and though they don't seem to pick up on it it's definitely there. I hate to say it, but it's often usually the stereotypical middle-class white British people who act like that as well.

As the course I'm doing is quite small I don't have many coursemates and I sometimes sit in the computer room on my own between lectures. At least five times in the last semester (when I've been really busy and in there quite a lot) people have passed me and been like "That Asian girl is so weird" or "That girl looks so tired." "Which one?" "Oh... the Asian one." It's absolutely ridiculous. Obviously I appreciate that it's not just white people who are racist but in my case it's always been them. Once I just sat down and started working in the same row as one of the girls whom I'd heard making a comment like that, and she started huffing for ages and glaring in my direction. I did so back but it was just stupid. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the way I was acting, it was clearly just because I was "Asian". I often walk through the library past groups of white blonde girls and get dirty looks.

I'm not considered "weird" in any other sense (I have plenty of friends, I dress and act normally like I said, I speak like a normal British person and so on). I feel like people continually ostracise me and put me down just for the fact that I look different.

We have something called a "Spotted" Facebook page where you can send in stuff about people you see around uni and this gets posted anonymously. Usually this is just people trying to hit on each other, but a lot of the time people will send in ridiculous things like "To the Chinese person sitting in the cafe... oh wait, that's all of them" or "To the people (no need to mention of what nationality) who always sound like a flock of birds in the SU cafe" and then people will make casually racist comments.

Why the hell are some white British people (usually southern and affluent ones, though I'm not trying to generalise here) so obnoxious, stuck-up and casually racist? Why do they see Asian people as inferior? How do I deal with people like that when I see them?

Reply 1

Melthusa

8

Be careful here to see If this is actually racism: If somebody describes you as Asian they are probably using it as a feature about yourself; you are from Asian descent. Its like somebody saying that blonde person over there, or that tall person, its not saying it as an insult, but an identifying feature.

Reply 2

ipoop

5

Original post by Melthusa

Be careful here to see If this is actually racism: If somebody describes you as Asian they are probably using it as a feature about yourself; you are from Asian descent. Its like somebody saying that blonde person over there, or that tall person, its not saying it as an insult, but an identifying feature.

I see no racism here :s-smilie:

has P.C come to the stage when we aren't even allowed to mention someone's ethnicity? :rolleyes:

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 3

Iron Lady

The way you've picked up on them being middle class or affluent is no different to them calling you Asian.

People may describe a characteristic (e.g. the girl with the brown hair) to differentiate them when describing.

But the people in your OP sound very immature (I thought people were past the stage of caring who sat next to them in the library), you've just met childish students. Just focus on your degree and ignore them. :smile:

Reply 4

Anonymous #1

OP

Original post by Melthusa

Be careful here to see If this is actually racism: If somebody describes you as Asian they are probably using it as a feature about yourself; you are from Asian descent. Its like somebody saying that blonde person over there, or that tall person, its not saying it as an insult, but an identifying feature.

Then why is it always me who gets comments made about myself? I appreciate the fact that the word "Asian" can just be used to identify me, but I don't think that that's the case. When there are five other people sitting alone in the computer room and the girl described by a complete stranger as "Asian" is the one who gets a rude comment made about her, why is this the case? Why do white British people see me as an easy target? Like I said, I don't act "weirdly" at all, I have a lot of friends at uni and dress normally, but half the time when I'm alone I get weird remarks made about me by people I don't even know.

Some comments are undoubtedly racist. I was coming out of the library toilets the other day and a group of British girls barged through the door and it accidentally hit me. Instead of saying sorry, they rolled their eyes and walked past and I heard one of them say "why are Asian people always so clumsy?"

There is also stuff that happens and you're not sure if it's due to your race or not (I joined my university polo club, we said hi to each other at the first session and though no one knew each other beforehand about 2 of the British girls even bothered to talk to me properly and shake my hand. The others just looked at me as if I was from another planet).

Reply 5

Millie228

9

Original post by Melthusa

Be careful here to see If this is actually racism: If somebody describes you as Asian they are probably using it as a feature about yourself; you are from Asian descent. Its like somebody saying that blonde person over there, or that tall person, its not saying it as an insult, but an identifying feature.

This. I struggle to see the actual racism here. If the OP has international friends and seem to be the only one who "picks up on it", I am guessing she is struggling with general feelings of inferiority and force opinions on others.

Reply 6

Iron Lady

Original post by Anonymous

Then why is it always me who gets comments made about myself? I appreciate the fact that the word "Asian" can just be used to identify me, but I don't think that that's the case. When there are five other people sitting alone in the computer room and the girl described by a complete stranger as "Asian" is the one who gets a rude comment made about her, why is this the case? Why do white British people see me as an easy target? Like I said, I don't act "weirdly" at all, I have a lot of friends at uni and dress normally, but half the time when I'm alone I get weird remarks made about me by people I don't even know.

Some comments are undoubtedly racist. I was coming out of the library toilets the other day and a group of British girls barged through the door and it accidentally hit me. Instead of saying sorry, they rolled their eyes and walked past and I heard one of them say "why are Asian people always so clumsy?"

There is also stuff that happens and you're not sure if it's due to your race or not (I joined my university polo club, we said hi to each other at the first session and though no one knew each other beforehand about 2 of the British girls even bothered to talk to me properly and shake my hand. The others just looked at me as if I was from another planet).

With all of those things, it's their problem, not yours. It's not a reflection of how British people view Asians.

Reply 7

Anonymous #2

Original post by Anonymous

Why the hell are some white British people (usually southern and affluent ones, though I'm not trying to generalise here)

Not generalising at all, are we?

Reply 8

Anonymous #1

OP

Original post by Millie228

This. I struggle to see the actual racism here. If the OP has international friends and seem to be the only one who "picks up on it", I am guessing she is struggling with general feelings of inferiority and force opinions on others.

Hardly. I've had Chinese friends have their accents loudly mocked as soon as they turned their backs by students who were selling us tickets for nights out, and one of my Indian best friends didn't get to know her flatmates in first year for ages because apparently "they thought people from that culture didn't drink" and so never invited her out or to parties where there was always alcohol, even though she told me she was making a real effort to get along with them.

Even the British born Asians at my uni (who tend to socialise amongst themselves and join all the same societies) have agreed with me that they've noticed a certain attitude towards people from a particular background. I would rather not have to deal with this, but sometimes it's staring you straight in the face.

Reply 9

pandabird

I can see where you're coming from even though it's not technically racist, it must be quite tiring to have your race be your one identifying feature. To always be 'that Asian girl'.
And unfortunately, many people do look at you differently, as though you aren't completely like them. You just have to hold your head up high and not let it get to you.

And do be careful not to feel as though there's a racial root in every negative social situation, maybe that girl who huffed when you sat on her table dislikes you for some other reason.

Reply 10

~Sanctified

Listen my young daughter. You come from an Asian background , so what ? Be Proud of it !

I really never liked people who try so hard to be like the natives.. like i.e imitating the accent, dress etc .. then feel bothered when someone figures out that about the background of their descent.

Not good ..

Reply 11

Guy Secretan

18

Is this Chinese Asian or Indian there is nothing you can do about it I'm afraid you'll never be able to prove anything and a lot of them are just ignorant do what they like kind of people. So you'll have to get a house or something with maybe just other ethnic minorities.

Reply 12

ComeWhatMay

6

Original post by Anonymous

Then why is it always me who gets comments made about myself? I appreciate the fact that the word "Asian" can just be used to identify me, but I don't think that that's the case. When there are five other people sitting alone in the computer room and the girl described by a complete stranger as "Asian" is the one who gets a rude comment made about her, why is this the case? Why do white British people see me as an easy target? Like I said, I don't act "weirdly" at all, I have a lot of friends at uni and dress normally, but half the time when I'm alone I get weird remarks made about me by people I don't even know.

Some comments are undoubtedly racist. I was coming out of the library toilets the other day and a group of British girls barged through the door and it accidentally hit me. Instead of saying sorry, they rolled their eyes and walked past and I heard one of them say "why are Asian people always so clumsy?"

There is also stuff that happens and you're not sure if it's due to your race or not (I joined my university polo club, we said hi to each other at the first session and though no one knew each other beforehand about 2 of the British girls even bothered to talk to me properly and shake my hand. The others just looked at me as if I was from another planet).

I can see that some comments are racist, but you won't be the only person being commented on; you just don't notice when other people are commented on because it's hard to pick up on; other people probably don't notice when people make comments about you either.
It looks like sometimes you pick up on the fact that someone's white British and assume that their behaviour towards you is racially motivated; you have to remember that some people either are just like that to everyone or have other motivations, for example when you said you joined a club and felt ignored, people may already have known some of the other people there and preferred to stay in their comfort zone.

Reply 13

Redolent

10

If somebody calls you Asian it is probably because your Asian appearance is the main thing that differentiates you from other people in the vicinity. If somebody asks if you're Spanish or Brazillian, it is probably because you look like the people from those countries. And if some snobby white girl doesn't treat you nicely, maybe she's just a snob - yet you assume it must be because of your skin colour.

Sorry but a lot of this racism (not all of it) you are talking about isn't really racism. Being non-racist isn't about pretending races don't exist and everyone is the same, it's about not treating people like crap for having different heritage, and most of your examples don't fall foul of that definition. From what I can see a lot of this "racism" is just people making valid observations about what you look like.

Reply 14

tory88

18

None of this really indicates racism. For me racism is about the intent behind the words. If someone is saying something with reference to race to be malicious or hurt/discriminate on the basis of race, then and only then is it racist. Pointing someone out as the black guy is most definitely not racist.

Reply 15

username839961

12

Lol It's just hilarious how the OP is constantly being singled out as being Asian by 'subtle' bullies and yet somehow all the posters on here (whom I presume are white) are acting as if they're the victims and that the OP isn't being wronged in any way. Wake up and realise that while it's not a bad thing to defend your race, it shouldn't be done all the time!

Reply 16

tory88

18

Original post by ChampEon

Lol It's just hilarious how the OP is constantly being singled out as being Asian by 'subtle' bullies and yet somehow all the posters on here (whom I presume are white) are acting as if they're the victims and that the OP isn't being wronged in any way. Wake up and realise that while it's not a bad thing to defend your race, it shouldn't be done all the time!

How is it obvious? Describing someone as Asian certainly isn't bullying, and she has no idea why she gets strange looks from people. I find it strange how people try to define everything by what race people are - I would give the same response if it was a white person posting. The fact is people are way too prissy nowadays about mentioning race and its precisely because people like the OP scream racist whenever race is mentioned.

Reply 17

Steevee

15

Original post by ChampEon

Lol It's just hilarious how the OP is constantly being singled out as being Asian by 'subtle' bullies and yet somehow all the posters on here (whom I presume are white) are acting as if they're the victims and that the OP isn't being wronged in any way. Wake up and realise that while it's not a bad thing to defend your race, it shouldn't be done all the time!

If I want to identify someone in a room I'm going to pick the characteristic that sticks out the most, in a room full of White people being Asian sticks out, so I'd say 'Oh, the Asian girl over there.' I'd fully expect a bunch of Asian students to do the same if I was the only White guy in a room, it's not racism it's common sense. Grow up.

I can guarantee that exactly the same sort of 'racism' comes back from other ethnic groups. I have a White British coursemate who lives in a house where all the other are Malaysian, aside from the first day they made no real effort to integrate with him, but they all do with each other. Racism! Or you know, natural cultural affinity along with recognising they didn't seem to have that much in common. Some people are far too quick to cry about racism, it's a chip on their shoulder that's the problem.

Reply 18

username839961

12

Original post by Steevee

If I want to identify someone in a room I'm going to pick the characteristic that sticks out the most, in a room full of White people being Asian sticks out, so I'd say 'Oh, the Asian girl over there.' I'd fully expect a bunch of Asian students to do the same if I was the only White guy in a room, it's not racism it's common sense. Grow up.

I can guarantee that exactly the same sort of 'racism' comes back from other ethnic groups. I have a White British coursemate who lives in a house where all the other are Malaysian, aside from the first day they made no real effort to integrate with him, but they all do with each other. Racism! Or you know, natural cultural affinity along with recognising they didn't seem to have that much in common. Some people are far too quick to cry about racism, it's a chip on their shoulder that's the problem.

I didn't say it was racist to identify someone using their race, that's clearly a non-issue so I don't know why you're trying to put words in my mouth. The fact is that if you (a white male I assume) were a student at, say, a majority black university/institution where people are constantly calling you a white boy and giving you strange looks and comments such as "That White boy is so weird" behind your back, then you'd be correct in saying that you'd be a victim of racism. Otherwise you seriously need to grow up.

And come on... your friend's Malaysian housemates were being racist whether you like it or not, as your friend was shunned by them purely because of the colour of his skin. Anyway, whilst I agree with your desperate attempts to show that racism can take place against white people too, the facts remain clear: the OP is a victim of racism.

EDIT: I should also add that, like the OP, I am also a student at a top Russell Group university with white students being the majority but have never once been subjected to racism. In other words, white people are no worse than any other race when it comes to racism.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 19

username944192

21

Original post by Steevee

If I want to identify someone in a room I'm going to pick the characteristic that sticks out the most, in a room full of White people being Asian sticks out, so I'd say 'Oh, the Asian girl over there.' I'd fully expect a bunch of Asian students to do the same if I was the only White guy in a room, it's not racism it's common sense. Grow up.

I can guarantee that exactly the same sort of 'racism' comes back from other ethnic groups. I have a White British coursemate who lives in a house where all the other are Malaysian, aside from the first day they made no real effort to integrate with him, but they all do with each other. Racism! Or you know, natural cultural affinity along with recognising they didn't seem to have that much in common. Some people are far too quick to cry about racism, it's a chip on their shoulder that's the problem.

Agreed.

Racist people at my uni are pissing me off

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