Recently, I was complaining over the phone about the social scene here at college for the non-drinkers. (It sux0rs, if anyone is curious.) My mother consoled me by pointing out, “Well, there are 25,000 other people there. I’m sure that there are other students out there who are in a technical major and don’t go out drinking every night. Of course, they’re probably Asian.”
Racial stereotype, yes. I, for one, find the remark complimentary. So, how does the Doper community, especially the Asian ones, feel about this? And, if you are female, fit this stereotype, and attend Virginia Tech, can I have your phone number, please?
[Fantasizes about techie non-drinking doper female. The Asian bit is optional.]
Well any stereotype is, ipso facto, racist, even the complimentary ones. I’m sure that Jews don’t care to be complimented at their shrewdness at bargaining, nor do blacks like to be told what natural rhythm they posses.
Moreover, Asia is one gigantic continent–do people think that Thias are indistuniguisable from Uzbeks, or that Chinese are identical to Filipinos?
In addition, if your mom thinks Asians don’t drink, she ought to go and hang out at the clubs in Roppongi in Tokyo, or the bars in Shinchon-dong in Seoul.
There may be an added layer of racism in the context. You are complaining that there is a poor social scene for non-drinkers such as yourself. She responds that there must be many other non-drinkers but “of course, they’re probably Asian”.
What is the relevance of their ethnicity in this context? I would have though that there is none, unless she is implying that you would choose not to socialise with Asians, or that Asians would choose not to socialise with you. Either implication is offensive to Asians (and to you, of course).
I think she was joking, myself. I’m sure that she wouldn’t say any such thing in a public forum, where there are people who might be offended by it.
And I wonder: do statistics show whether or not there is a statistical correlation between race and alcohal consumption in college? Are there any statistics about race and major choice?
I say that there is no reason to presuppose that any group of people would have behavioral statistics different than the group norm without evidence. Just the same, stereotypes die hard.
Well, almost certainly racist. But here’s some possible wiggle room: Are these folks she’s referring to Asian-Americans, or actual Asians? For instance, students from China whose English skills are not stellar and who choose to associate mostly with other students from their home country, and less so with Americans. In that case, it’s a major cultural obstacle, rather than a racial one. If it’s just Asian-Americans, then it’s simple racism. And I second the objection to Asians not being drinkers. I’ve never come across any evidence to support such a theory among my Asian friends.
Usually when someone says a statement is racist, either one is attributing an inferior quality to a race other than their own, or making a claim of superiority to their own race to the detriment of others.
My view might be different if I were Asian, but I consider the trait to be a desirable one, so I don’t consider it racist.
It’s just a silly comment. It’s not to be taken as a claim of fact.
“Racism: 1. The notion that ones own ethnic stock is superiour.” No, there is nothing apparent in Rob’s mother’s statement that would indicate that she belives her “racial stock is superiour”. “2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race”. Ok, here it appears that we have slipped into defintion #2. Thus, I’d give it more “ignorance” than “intolerance”, and it does not fit the primary or classic definition of “racism”.
I go to Tech! In fact Im in professor wallenstein’s racial identity and power class. Im a guy in one technical and one non-technical major (CS and History). I barely have time to alot to enjoying myself on the weekends!
Yes I do think the statement was racist, but I also tend to think that everyone is racist on an unconscious level. We all make generalizations about people based on observations we make in society. Blondes are blondes, and bearded men are wise. On an intellectual level, there’s really nothing wrong with making generalizations about people though, so long as they are rooted in proven fact. So if your mom somehow got bored and conveyed to you some analysis of asian culture or the effort required to be able to study at an American university and how this might impact attitudes of asians, it wouldnt be racist in my opinion. Of course the catch-all phrase “Asians” is suspect, do Indians count, Russians, Mongolians, Phillipinos?