Racial Identity Issues
June 16th 2010 21:00
While we’re on the subject of racism (see previous post), I was once talking to two ladies of Greek and Chinese heritage, respectively, about how people treat you differently just because you come from an non-Anglo Saxon/Celtic background. We weren’t talking about obvious different treatment such as when people call you Ching Chong or Dago but the more subtle but albeit just as racist and offensive behaviour.
The Greek lady (who I’ll call Helen) said, “When I tell people my background is Greek they say, “You don’t look like a Greek”. What is that supposed to mean? What is a Greek supposed to look like?”
The Chinese lady (I’ll call her Amanda) started telling me how patronising and condescending people sound when they say things like, “You should visit China. You come from such an interesting background with lots of history.” “As if I don’t know that,” she said.
I also cop it too. People often have this idea because my background is Chinese, I must drink Chinese tea and eat Yum Cha and celebrate Chinese New Year. I actually find this kind of behaviour offensive. Who says I have to engage in these types of activities? Who says my lifestyle must be defined by something I have no control over: my racial appearance?
“But that’s your culture,” is their reply.
I like to retort with: “No. That’s my parents’ culture. I’m Australian and I live a Western lifestyle.” People can’t handle it. What they also cannot handle is my lack of interest in visiting my so-called homeland.
“Why don’t you want to go to China?” I get asked this a lot.
I have several good reasons, not that it’s any of their business: one, I don’t like travel; two, I can’t afford it; three, I have already been to a couple of Asian countries and the last place I would want to visit is another part of Asia; and four; I would not want to go to China due to the Chinese Government’s human rights abuses. My parents aren’t any help either.
“The last time we went to China we were amazed at how bad it’s become,” complained my father. “There were gay bars and many nightclubs. We never had this when I was living there.” (By the way, I am not homophobic.)
One Chinese New Year, Brett decided to rile me up in the best way possible: “Why aren’t you out celebrating with your people?” he asked.
“F*ck off. I’m Australian,” I said.
“I’m of Irish stock and if they had a festival I’d be out celebrating.” Brett does celebrate St Patrick’s Day.
For the record, I cop these kinds of comments from both Asian and non-Asian people. When I have a b*tch to my psychologist friend, he likes to say, “Most people can’t think outside the square. They think there is only one way of looking at a situation. You belong to the small percentile of the population who does think differently to other people so you will always get this.” He will then draw a bell curve and put a mark on the right side of the curve of where he thinks I sit, IQ wise. In case you think he is biased, I was once forced to see a careers counsellor by a previous employer and she came to exactly the same conclusion. No wonder I prefer the company of animals.
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