Korean Job Discussion Forums

[periwinkle]

Almost every single day, someone (usually a taxi driver) asks if I am Russian, and I find it VERY ofensive. I dress very professionally, and I conduct myself very respectfully. I don't understand why everyone seems to think I am a prostitute/hostess girl/ nightclub dancer!!!!!!!!! I realize there are Russian women here who aren't involved in the sex industry, and my apologies to them for the sterotyping, but when someone asks me "Are you Russian?", it also feels like an insinuation. I have had people assume I am Russian, and they start going-off about Russian prostitutes to other Koreans in my presence. I feel ashamed and humiliated... My boyfriend is Korean, and he is also embarrassed by the references. I wish it didn't bother me so much, but I resent people thinking filthy things about me, and just because I am young and have blond hair and blue eyes does not make me Russian!!! I have had Koreans apologize, and they lamely say, "Well, you just look Russian..." I find the Russian women very tacky with unatural make-up, bad dye jobs, and wearing clothes that I wouldn't be caught dead in, so NO, I DO NOT look Russian!!!!!!!!! Grrrrrrrrrrr!

I don't know how to handle this, and if someone has a good way of dealing with this, I would REALLY appreciate any advice. I wish I had a sense of humor about it, but it happens EVERY DAY, and I have run out of patience! I can't help getting upset about this, and perhaps I shouldn't take it so personally, but I hate that people think I am involved in the sex industry- knowing they think these things makes me feel really dirty Please help!!

*topic title edited by Lemon 9:43pm*

[Dugstool]

A good friend of mine has this same problem. Her solution is to ask them in return if they are Japanese. (In korean). Probably not the most tactful move, but they seem to get the hint.

[Tiger Beer]

[Cedar]

Well, i know what you mean. As a fair (relatively) haired woman I get the Russian thing, too. I usually tend to be very impolite about it. In Korean. I have nothing against Russians, but I resent having anyone think I am in a business where the shape of my ass is important. I have no suggestions of how to handle it, as I tend to handle it quite badly myself. I usually start by asking them "Do I look like a prostitute?" If I am calm and doing my best to be an ambassador, at the end of the conversation I may inform them that it's polite to just ask "Where are you from?" rather than to guess a country. I also get that "I didn't mean anything bad by it, but Russian women are beautiful and so are you!" (stretch). It also makes me Grrr. But, what can you do?

Trying to be somewhat helpful in my response, perhaps I should say- act conspicuously like a loud American! Speak English really loud! (I am American.) or buy a bunch of those Canadian flag patches! Or dye your hair black or gain fifty pounds. "Hey baby, I am flapping in all the wrong places, you KNOW I ain't in entertainment in Korea!"

[gajackson1]

My gf has had this on occasion here - to the point where even OTHER Russians/E. Europeans ask her, or will just start in on conversations.

If you are tall, athletic-looking, pretty, have a good carriage, lighter/fair skin tone, blue or green eyes, and/or dress professionally, then you will be mistaken for Russian. Period. In Incheon, it is even more likely (as it would be in Busan), because there ia a large expat Russian population there.

I expect I know at least 1 other postor here who has probably had these sorts of 'problems,' but she has not added anything yet, so I won't name names. Maybe, she will pm you with empathy/advice.

Dugstool's advice is sound!!!

Regards, and good luck,

Glen

[narsty dog]

i was wearing a wooly hat one night and had a bit of stubble ,and these 2 piss(^&^%$$ed up ajjossis shouted at me Rosshiiya saram ya , blah , blah . Of course i got angry, I m a narsty dog , but lets face it , it s better than being mistaken for an american.

[Ody]

i am always mistaken for an american. oh wait i am an american. ' guess i'm just sloppy and aggresive.

[jaderedux]

[Dugstool]

True enough. I guess I can be loud. That is fair. But, the loudest foreigners I have met in Korea have been British. So, I am pretty unsure what the stereotype of loud Americans is about. But, whatever. I have been called worse things!

[gray]

periwinkle--
i know it sucks when people make assumptions about you based on your appearance, but you really shouldn't let it get you so down. i have had the "are you russian?" question asked of me countless times by men here, and it used to really piss me off. ok fine, it still does. but my response is to politely tell them no, and if this is followed by obscene comments or gestures i tell them to f*ck right off. no one should be allowed to make you feel uncomfortable, and i find that most creeps, when confronted with an assertive girl, will back off (if not run away in sheer terror ). and you said they make you feel dirty.......what's that about.........hey, just cuz you look like a hooker doesn't mean you do it for money! don't forget your sense of humour.....it's your best defense.

[bucheon bum]

One of my former co-workers is married to a Russian woman. The first couple years it drove her mad since everyone assumed she was a night-club worker or prostitute (she isn't, she's a scientist). I can't imagine going through that kind of treatment day-in, day-out. Through it all, she managed to learn quite a bit of Korean and has made a network of Korean friends.

I realize this has nothing to do with a Western woman being confused for a Russian woman, but just imagine what it would be like for a professional (ie scientist, engineer, etc) Russian woman to live here: yikes.

[canuk2]

Have you been offered money yet. I'm brunette and buxom to put it politely and one adashi on three different occasions offered money to my fiancee. Now when we see him we automatically head in another direction. I fortunately have not had any other offers.

[waterbaby]

[princess]

Yeah,I used to get offended but not now because many Russian women are gorgeous and one guy told me that he thought I was Russian because I am not fat like most Americans and I have great skin.

[Derrek]