Job Discussion Forums

[cangringo]

I came with my norwegian looking hubby - no chance of him being mistaken for a Mexican...and I've found that the men will stare...but they don't do anything else. At first I was a little insulted but then I realized I'm either with hubby or they have seen me with him before in our neighborhood. Met one guy that wanted to know what Canadian women thing of Mexican men, he wanted to go there and find a girlfriend.

I find it interesting that all of the commercials and advertising have pictures of white looking Mexicans and I've talked to friends and they don't find most Mexicans appealing but prefer white European looks. Explains all the mixed couples I guess?

[misterbrownpants]

no one trapped anyone
we got married then had a baby.

[rgamarra28]

Met my Peruvian hubby in the U.S. through Taekwondo (He's a former member of the Peruvian national team and Pan American Champion.) Now I'm not only in love with him, but his country as well! We can't wait till we can make our stay down there permanent.

[Guy Courchesne]

[Justin Trullinger]

I understand why add companies want someone whose look isn't strongly asociated with one region. But it's interesting to me that most places I've been in Latin America, people mostly come in shades of brown, yet the most popular adverts, and the stereotype of attractiveness, is always shades of blond with blue eyes.

I once had a student tell me that she thinks she would be pretty if she weren't so dark. She IS extremely attractive, but within Ecuador, the colour of her skin (think milk chocolate) isn't associated with anything good.

Sad.

Best,
Justin

[cangringo]

Yes that's what we are finding here too Justin, they really like the blonde/blue eyed look or even a whiter skinned look. Doesn't necessarily have to be blonde but the whiter you are the more attractive you are...

It is sad to me that so many women here aspire to be blonde and whiter looking. They are so beautiful.

On another note though, I've noticed that when people ask about someone, they are not just asking how they look but what they are like - I get the impression that they do value inner beauty a lot...??

[rgamarra28]

Speaking of color discrimination, I wonder how acceptable it is for a gringo/gringa or a caucasian looking person to marry a mestizo? My husband has a darker skin color (He's Peruvian) yet my children have light skin, auburn hair and one has sky blue eyes. I notice that the one with blue eyes gets noticable attention in Peru, despite our requests in the school that she be treated like any other child. It's funny, here in the States they look over people like my daughters when it comes to casting, yet the "ethnic" look that you encounter in S. America and Central America is in such demand by the film and television industries here in North America.

[naturegirl321]

[Jyulee]

In Colombia, describing someone as "Indio" (as in "dark-skinned, strong influence of native South American genes") is often roughly equivalent to saying "Uneducated, rude, untrustworthy, poor and uncultured".

It's not very nice, I agree.

Generally, the darker-skinned and "indio" looking Colombians do have less money and less education - the more European you look, the richer you are likely to be. It is fair to say that most European looking Colombians are better educated too. Street-cleaners and other such professions are almost exclusively staffed by "Indios", people who wear ties to work are noticeably more "European-esque".

I was on holiday in Cartagena with a Colombian friend of mine and we saw a European girl (German, I think) with an "Indio" looking Colombian - my friend was (lightheartedly) appalled. "What's she doing with such an Indio?" she asked, "It's gross!". She, by the way, is hardly classicly European looking herself, she has tanned skin, brown eyes and black hair.

Although it is racism, I would hesitate to place it firmly in the same camp as skin-heads and the British BNP. Colombia is a very classist country - and skin-colour (and physical appearance generally) is often a fairly reliable indicator of someone's social level.

As I understand it, white colombians and "indios" do not marry very often.

[John Hall]

[cangringo]

I haven't noticed a lot of discrimination in that way here in Monterrey but then we're not living in the rich neighborhood either. I have heard that they are pretty snobby in San Pedro but haven't experienced it firsthand. My guess is it's much the same there as described above...

I love our neighborhood because the people are so friendly and and they don't seem judgemental...notice I said seem...you never know. Of course everyone wants to know how we like it here, they are very concerned with that and are suprised when we explain that in Vancouver you don't say hi to everyone...

[MikeySaid]

I just wanted to say...

In the spirit of the day...

That I am more in love with my Mexican girlfriend than ever before and it has nothing to do with Cupid or Hallmark.

On that note... I may be looking for a job in Torreon soon.

[jillford64]

Aw, that's sweet MikeySaid. She's a lucky girl.

[Justin Trullinger]

Sweet, Mikey.

And while we're here, would this be the place to voice the idea that this whole holiday is a bunch of consumerist crap, yet another way we are made to feel that we should BUY or else our love isn't genuine? Or at least, our parejas will be so offended that we'll wish we had BOUGHT!

But all my classes seem to want to do something special for VD. How about you guys? Any class ideas?

Oh, and in the spirit of MikeySaid's little announcement, my girlfriend's pretty alright as well.

Happy VD,
Justin

[lozwich]