Job Discussion Forums

[blackguy-n-Asia]

I went swiming w/friends in Toronto yesterday, 95% Chinese in the public pool. It got me thinking....

-A dad was scolding his son about swimming properly, when he saw me close by, he told his son 'what's wrong with you, your doing it all wrong, man!' in english, so I can hear him lay it on his son. Thanks.

- 3 young boys came up to me and started a conversation, they were 'waiting for me to say something cool', following me and doing whatever I did. Flattering.

- A young chinese girl was following me around the pool and the hot tub, I finally started to talk to her, after she deliberately brushed her feet against mine in the tub. She was trying to pick me up. Flattering.

All this in less than 2 hours, because i was the only black guy in the pool.

My question? How do you feel, being white and in demand in China?

Do you feel flattered, or used? Is it all good? I must say that I felt singled out, but in a good way.

[Teacher Lindsay]

[ebritton]

I'm planning to go to China with my family. My wife and I are white. We'll be taking our 4 children. We have one adopted son (12) who is black. We've been wondering if he might be received differently - should we be aware or concerned? Would appreciate some perspectives.

[Redfivestandingby]

Your treatment will differ depending on where in China you'll go. Your perspective of prejudice and racism might differe A LOT if you speak Chinese.

Yes, you'll be singled out a lot. I'm not sure if in a positive way. Just be aware that Chinese are very prejudiced against darker skinned people especially black. They'll deny it of course. Do a quick search about skin colour and jobs and you'll see.

Some people are more open than others. Your treatment will also differ depending on whether you have white people around you. You could quickly become second-class.

I'm not saying any of this to condemn Chinese. Only to prepare you or buffer you.

[Roger]

You grow used to it! And, to some extent, locals do get used to us.
In Guangdong, girls are a little more blase towards non-Chinese. In northern parts they swarm all over you.
But it's good to know that they expect you to know your station, notably that your station is below theirs.

[kev7161]

I'm taking one of my classes out for swimming next week. Now, I am a very fat man (well, especially by Chinese standards - - I'm a virtual Shamu!) and also have been cursed with too much body hair (ewwwww, don't get too grossed out!). So, I'm awaiting the stares and smiles and so on - - - I told my students today: "no laughing!"

A couple of summers ago, I took another group swimming and it was . . . .okay, no problems to speak of. I even had a couple of people practice their english on me, so I may worry to much. I'm much too self-conscious!

[anthyp]

Regarding how it feels to always be the center of attention whenever you walk outside your door, I'd say ... it's all good.

Sure, the attention becomes a little much after the initial shock. I mean, who wants to go to the supermarket when everybody's staring at you? The Helllooooos and other forms of mockery? Very annoying.

At the same time, it is kind of cool to be somebody different, and it definitely has its advantages. As you know, there's a lot of attention from the ladies. And dining out can be a very enjoyable experience - the manager of the restaurant might come over to offer you cigarettes, or the waitresses might drink a toast with you!

Overall I'd say it's pretty good. If you don't want all the attention, try working somewhere else. There's nothing great about anonymity.

[traveller]

Teacher Lindsay wrote

[Talkdoc]

...

[Norman Bethune]

[struelle]

[Ace]

It really pisses me off to read a Westerner like Mr Bethune quoting the same kind of nonsense the Chinese would have us believe...

Have you ever been to East Turkestan? Have you been to Inner Mongolia..and heard the different 'general language'? Seen the fighting between the students of the different 'races'?

I'm no longer sure what 'race' actually means, and I despise religion, but every class I taught in Inner Mongolia quickly told me whether they were Han or Mongolian - I hadn't asked...what stunned me was how separated they were, officially I mean...I had Han classes who slept in Han dormitories and I had Mongolian classes (and teachers) who slept in ...very bad conditions.

Do you know any Chinese gays? Aren't they a minority? There are more gays in China, according to the government, than the entire population of Australia...but people have told me they don't exist...

China is a huge and diverse country, they just won't admit it. They have a f**ked culture where everyone has to copy and everyone has to be the same.

Get to know some of the 'minority' people, and get an insight into how difficult life is for them.

Coming from a country which prides itself on diversity and inclusiveness, and seeing the unhappiness that ensues from this stereotyped homogeneity breaks my heart sometimes. Sorry but I feel very strongly about this topic...In my country parents love their kids and stand by them...in China if my students' family's find out they're gay, for example, they're afraid to go 'home' for their stupid Spring Festival...I say what kind of home is that?

[Kurochan]

[blackguy-n-Asia]

Kurochan-
If anyone thought of my son or adopted one as a pet, I would behead them on the spot. That is an absolutely gutless thing to say. Anyone treating a child like that must be put down like the wild animals they are. Comming from a woman and teacher, I am surprised.

About Canada- I agree with Traveler. Canada has neigborhoods that are not segregated, but have a high percentage of minorities living in them. I was in Markham, which is high in chinese Canadians. Living in a Canadian city, there would not be one day in which you would not see every colour of the rainbow going out with, married to, or pushing a baby stroller with another colour. This is Canada, 2004! I love it. If you showed even a hint of racism on the streets of Canada, the mob will have your balls hanging from the lamp-post, I've seen old women with shrill voices lay on to punk kids and made them cry with shame.

Ignorance is no excuse! It does lead to violence and it is hate. Don't take an inch of it. Don't give anyone the message that it is ok. If China is ignorant, then educate the people by your own actions.

To ebritton-
I'm going to China in January 05, I have friends there teaching and living already. (Hainan, Shenzhen,etc) It isn't easy for people of colour. Ignorant people will[b] try to prey on the young, innocent and unprotected. I really hope you can protect him from malicous people! I've heard so much nonsense from my friends that China can be a paradise on some days, and 1960's Alabama on others. Please be on your guard, for his sake. Not to be paranoid, just cautious:)[/b]

[kev7161]

We have a large amount of REDNECKS in the USA that are homophobic, racist, wife-beating, deadbeats that, no matter what you say, will never change their mind about someone who is not white, male, and straight. These are the ones that comprise the lynch mobs (and yes there are still lynch mobs in the good ol' USA 2004), the zealots, and the bible-thumpers.

Yes, China's racism, anti-foreigner-ism, anti-homosexual-ism, and anything else you can throw in there may be due to a certain lack of intelligence, but it is also a nationalism that is as tough as a brick wall. I would not put up with jibes and epiteths in America and I sure as heck wouldn't do it here as well. Here's another one of those cases of "well, gee, if you don't like that sort of behavior here, why don't you just leave?" That is not the solution to the problem. If we as citizens and representatives of the WORLD want certain Chinese to be more enlightened and have their eyes opened a bit, then you and I need to stay and drag them into the 21st century, whether they like it or not.