Korean Job Discussion Forums

[periwinkle]

Imagine you are an east Asian woman, and you are innocently shopping in a grocery store in a western country. The clerk doesn't think you are paying any attention, as you are engrossed in searching for the perfectly textured tomato. She catches her co-worker's eye, and pulls the skin on the side of her eyes tight so her eyes look like slits, and shapes her mouth so she looks buck-toothed- i.e., she's doing a "China-man".

The Asian woman sees this, and is hurt and stunned. She gives a long look to the woman, who giggles, and then she looks at the woman's co-worker, who is poker-faced. She walks away, and does nothing because she is non-confrontational. Later, she is angry, and still thinking about the incident the next day. She is feeling victimized for not standing-up for herself.

Let's reverse the roles, and now the woman is white, and she receieved this treatment in Korea. This time it's google-eyes. Anyway, what would you do? How would you have handled the situation? Also, if you feel like defending this type of behavior, save it, ok? I'm really, really not in the mood for it right now.

[justagirl]

I would have given them the dirtiest look and said something rude in Korean that amounted to, "What's your problem, stupid?" If I were already having a bad day, I'd probably yell at her, or walked up right next to her, get in her face and start speaking really fast and mean in English to intimidate her. Then I'd go home and wish I'd thrown the darn tomato in her face.

That's my mean side. On a side note, I was in Carrefour and buying fruits and veggies and one of their people kept holding up tomatoes and saying, "You fat." "Diet." "Tomato." I now wish I'd squished those tomatoes all over his white shirt.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I'd laugh and start up a conversation with her, and let her know that I think brown, slitted eyes like hers are really a lot more attractive, like Korean women in general. But then again, I'm a guy who lets things like that slide right off his back, not an easily offended woman.

[periwinkle]

[quote="justagirl"]
That's my mean side. On a side note, I was in Carrefour and buying [b]fruits and veggies and one of their people kept holding up tomatoes and saying, "You fat." "Diet." "Tomato." I now wish I'd squished those tomatoes all over his white shirt.[quote]

OMG- I'm sorry that happened to you. That's just so mean. Also, it's absolutely not acceptable behavior in Korea. We're customers for God's sake. What's the deal with freaky people in the tomato section, anyway? LOL My friend recommended I speak to a manager, but I really wonder if that would do any good.

I wish I could grow some balls and confront people, but I'm the type that just walks away and then stews about what I could've or should've done. I just hope that what goes around, comes around.

[periwinkle]

[coffeeman]

I remember when I was a young boy like 30 years ago in North America, people used to make fun of the Chinese kids. Today race isn't an issue. People don't even think about it. In this respect, Korea is about 30 years behind the west. Sure having lots of Asians settling down in my country helps, but Koreans have seen enough visting Westerners by now that they should be used to them. Anyway, I still get "Weygunin!" (foreigner!) wherever I go. I just shrug my head and walk on. You can't reason with ignorant peope.

[peppermint]

[billybrobby]

the first thing i would do is go here and write about it. and if i was really angry, i might make a poll.

[periwinkle]

[cruisemonkey]

[Mills]

Poor periwinkle... punished because of your race once again. When will the world recognize the plight of the white woman?

[Ya-ta Boy]

If you aren't a confrontational person, then there isn't much you can do about the situation. Just shake your head and move on, muttering about the existence of stupid people everywhere.

I would consider speaking to the manager or writing a letter to the head office if it's a big company. I don't know if those actions are too confrontational for you or not, but something to think about.

[periwinkle]

[pest2]

[Yu_Bum_suk]