Anonymous
09/30/2011 13:18
Subject: If your DC is African-Am. or Latino, do you put a lot of thought into how you dress your DC?
Anonymous wrote:DC looks Hispanic but is bi-racial. I don't really put lots of thought into how I dress her. She's a toddler and I dress her in clothes that I like, which happens to be a mini-boden type style. I don't get comments on her clothes, but I am aware that there are people in the world who might stereotype her because of the color of her skin. My biggest frustration is with people who assume we're poor immigrants, regardless of how we're dressed.
Just wanted to point out, Hispanic is not a race, but I get that you probably mean she looks stereotypically Hispanic- dark eyes, dark hair, darker skin.
However, all biracial means is that she is of two different races; it doesn't say what her background is. She could be biracial white/Native Amrican, which could give her a stereotypically Hispanic look.
Anonymous
09/30/2011 13:06
Subject: Re:If your DC is African-Am. or Latino, do you put a lot of thought into how you dress your DC?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
Let me tell you a bit about the History I learned while traveling...
Latinos look a bit like the native Indians who were rapped by the Hispanics who invaded their land.
Hispanics look like the lower level of Europeans. A mix of Caucasian and Arabic if you know what I mean...
You sure didn't acquire any class while traveling. What a waste.
I save my low class behavior for anonymous environment... kind of the behavior you save for when the lights are off
Sorry, honey, lights on or off, I would never call anyone "lower-level."
Anonymous
09/30/2011 13:05
Subject: If your DC is African-Am. or Latino, do you put a lot of thought into how you dress your DC?
DC looks Hispanic but is bi-racial. I don't really put lots of thought into how I dress her. She's a toddler and I dress her in clothes that I like, which happens to be a mini-boden type style. I don't get comments on her clothes, but I am aware that there are people in the world who might stereotype her because of the color of her skin. My biggest frustration is with people who assume we're poor immigrants, regardless of how we're dressed.
Anonymous
09/30/2011 12:52
Subject: Re:If your DC is African-Am. or Latino, do you put a lot of thought into how you dress your DC?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another ignorant post? Say it isn't so..... No one cares that your children look Latino. No one cares if your child wore his underwear outside of his pants. No one cares but YOU. Being dressed well does not equal good behavior. People comment on your child's behavior because they have good behavior. Why do you feel as though you have something to prove through your children? If you were so concerned about making sure your Latino looking children were not looking "Latino," maybe you should not have reproduced with one. Feel sorry for your kids OP. You are far too uptight. Let your children have FUN. It won't hurt.
Gotta. disagree. People by nature stereotype. It's how our minds store information for easier retrieval. It takes effort to not let stereotypes affect our judgment and actions. And unfortunately many people are too lazy or uncaring to do that. A man dressed in a suit is going to get treated better than a man dressed in sweatpants. Attractive people get better jobs and earn more than their equally-talented but more homely counterparts. Ethnicity is certainly not exempt. People are quick to shamelessly judge. What the OP is experiencing is likely true. Sad, but true.
Yes, this is true. And anyone who doesn't believe this is probably Caucasian and hasn't felt the behavior of stereotyping strangers. I can say that there is far less of this now than there was 20-30 years ago, but it still exists. I am Chinese American, born and raised in the US. I don't speak with an accent (after living in Maryland for 25+ years, I've managed to lose my Pittsburgh accent that I grew up with). On the phone, most people would have no idea of my race. And yet, when people here my clearly Asian surname I sometimes get interesting reactions. I've had people hear my surname and start to speak slower and louder. I had customer service agents who had no problem conversing normally with me, but when my surname is mentioned, suddenly every 2-3 sentences I would get "Do you understand?" or "Do I need to repeat that?" or they just repeat everything twice. I dress in pretty standard clothing...jeans and polo shirts most of the time. And yet, I can go places and have people react as if I am clearly "different". How often do people "break the ice" with you by discussing what their favorite Chinese food is. Or how much they love sushi? Or talk about how they had a wonderful trip to China and ask if you miss being there? I can guarantee you that some people still stereotype and act differently based on what you look like or even your name. I get these and similar types of comments at least a few times a month. When I was in college, it was a few times a week. Slow progress, but still progress.
I'm with the OP. My father who came to the US in 1949 and worked for 34 years as an engineer for a major corporation and had to live through some abominable racism in the 50's through 70's taught me that as Chinese Americans, we have to appear to be 110% as good as everyone else to be treated the same. Although it happens less often, it is still 100% true today because you never know where and when it will hit. I now have biracial children and unfortunately, I will still need to teach them this lesson. I hope that they do not have to teach their children this. So, to the "another ignorant post" poster above, unfortunately, the world is not as color blind for those of us that are racial minorities as it is for those of you who are in the racial majority.
I'm so glad you posted this. It's really annoying when some people think that Chinese Americans don't face racisism. BTW, my grandfather came here in the 1930's and I still get asked what country I'm from.
Anonymous
09/30/2011 12:51
Subject: Re:If your DC is African-Am. or Latino, do you put a lot of thought into how you dress your DC?
Anonymous wrote:I'm white and live in a pretty nice zip code. our preschool isn't terribly cheap, but it's pretty diverse. I wouldn't think twice about a child dressed in a costume, regardless of their race, other than to smile and think "oh that's cute." I would probably judge the parent if they brought their kid to school in PJ's, regardless of race. (and i might comment to another mom about her daughter's cute clothes because I might have noticed that the daughter is always looking cute. I like to give compliments where compliments are due.)
I'm not saying you're wrong to feel the way you do, OP, just that I don't feel it applies to me personally.
Yes, in preschool you would probably think they are cute...but in your child's second grade class you would likely take a much harsher view.
Anonymous
09/30/2011 12:46
Subject: Re:If your DC is African-Am. or Latino, do you put a lot of thought into how you dress your DC?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:people from Spain (Hispanics) don't look like Latinos.
Hm. Some do.
You should travel more.
Let me tell you a bit about the History I learned while traveling...
Latinos look a bit like the native Indians who were rapped by the Hispanics who invaded their land.
Hispanics look like the lower level of Europeans. A mix of Caucasian and Arabic if you know what I mean...
Lower level Europeans? *smacks forehead* omg.
Anonymous
09/30/2011 12:44
Subject: If your DC is African-Am. or Latino, do you put a lot of thought into how you dress your DC?
My kids are latina and for one thing, I would never pierce their ears or allow them to wear much jewelry - I do consciously try to avoid the stereotype. So while I don't worry about their clothes I do worry about cultural perceptions.
Anonymous
09/30/2011 12:32
Subject: If your DC is African-Am. or Latino, do you put a lot of thought into how you dress your DC?
"Yes, this is true. And anyone who doesn't believe this is probably Caucasian and hasn't felt the behavior of stereotyping strangers. I can say that there is far less of this now than there was 20-30 years ago, but it still exists. I am Chinese American, born and raised in the US. I don't speak with an accent (after living in Maryland for 25+ years, I've managed to lose my Pittsburgh accent that I grew up with). On the phone, most people would have no idea of my race. And yet, when people here my clearly Asian surname I sometimes get interesting reactions. I've had people hear my surname and start to speak slower and louder. I had customer service agents who had no problem conversing normally with me, but when my surname is mentioned, suddenly every 2-3 sentences I would get "Do you understand?" or "Do I need to repeat that?" or they just repeat everything twice. I dress in pretty standard clothing...jeans and polo shirts most of the time. And yet, I can go places and have people react as if I am clearly "different". How often do people "break the ice" with you by discussing what their favorite Chinese food is. Or how much they love sushi? Or talk about how they had a wonderful trip to China and ask if you miss being there? I can guarantee you that some people still stereotype and act differently based on what you look like or even your name. I get these and similar types of comments at least a few times a month. When I was in college, it was a few times a week. Slow progress, but still progress."
Seinfeld episode.
Seinfeld episode.
Anonymous
09/30/2011 12:31
Subject: If your DC is African-Am. or Latino, do you put a lot of thought into how you dress your DC?
I'm African American and when I was a little girl, my mom always stressed that we should always clean and neat in school. Dont want to look like "we dont belong to nobody." I dont know if it was a racial thing or an economic thing. She was very poor when she was growing up. For me, I dont notice what a kid wears as much as I notice when a child is dirty/hair is messy. When I see that I think that the parents are lazy. My child doesnt wear the most expensive clothes but I make sure she starts the day clean and neat. End of the day..different story (hair bows are missing, hair might be loose, stains on clothes) but I expect that, she's a kid.
Anonymous
09/30/2011 11:53
Subject: Re:If your DC is African-Am. or Latino, do you put a lot of thought into how you dress your DC?
No, "Latinos" look like people from "Latin America."
Which is to say, they look like anyone you can think of except probably 100% Asian people.
Actually I look 100% Asian. I am from South American, and there many many like me. Tired of people's reaction when they hear me talking Spanish, and the treatment change a little bit too.
Anonymous
09/30/2011 11:44
Subject: If your DC is African-Am. or Latino, do you put a lot of thought into how you dress your DC?
DD is half latino, and I am not trying to impress anybody. She is well behave and she wears what feels comfortable for her. I would love to dress her in nice dresses and pretty shoes (the way my mom used to dress me back home - and mom was not trying to prove anything either) but it will not work. Do I like everything dd likes, of course not. Do I buy everything she likes? No, however I do let her choose some of her clothing, and if she feels like wearing PJs to school, I allowed her. That's her personality and if somebody feels less of DD due to her clothing shame on them. There are other thing to worry in this world to be worry what others wear or do.
Anonymous
09/30/2011 11:41
Subject: Re:If your DC is African-Am. or Latino, do you put a lot of thought into how you dress your DC?
Latinos look a bit like the native Indians who were rapped by the Hispanics who invaded their land.
No, "Latinos" look like people from "Latin America."
Which is to say, they look like anyone you can think of except probably 100% Asian people.
Anonymous
09/30/2011 11:14
Subject: Re:If your DC is African-Am. or Latino, do you put a lot of thought into how you dress your DC?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another ignorant post? Say it isn't so..... No one cares that your children look Latino. No one cares if your child wore his underwear outside of his pants. No one cares but YOU. Being dressed well does not equal good behavior. People comment on your child's behavior because they have good behavior. Why do you feel as though you have something to prove through your children? If you were so concerned about making sure your Latino looking children were not looking "Latino," maybe you should not have reproduced with one. Feel sorry for your kids OP. You are far too uptight. Let your children have FUN. It won't hurt.
Gotta. disagree. People by nature stereotype. It's how our minds store information for easier retrieval. It takes effort to not let stereotypes affect our judgment and actions. And unfortunately many people are too lazy or uncaring to do that. A man dressed in a suit is going to get treated better than a man dressed in sweatpants. Attractive people get better jobs and earn more than their equally-talented but more homely counterparts. Ethnicity is certainly not exempt. People are quick to shamelessly judge. What the OP is experiencing is likely true. Sad, but true.
Yes, this is true. And anyone who doesn't believe this is probably Caucasian and hasn't felt the behavior of stereotyping strangers. I can say that there is far less of this now than there was 20-30 years ago, but it still exists. I am Chinese American, born and raised in the US. I don't speak with an accent (after living in Maryland for 25+ years, I've managed to lose my Pittsburgh accent that I grew up with). On the phone, most people would have no idea of my race. And yet, when people here my clearly Asian surname I sometimes get interesting reactions. I've had people hear my surname and start to speak slower and louder. I had customer service agents who had no problem conversing normally with me, but when my surname is mentioned, suddenly every 2-3 sentences I would get "Do you understand?" or "Do I need to repeat that?" or they just repeat everything twice. I dress in pretty standard clothing...jeans and polo shirts most of the time. And yet, I can go places and have people react as if I am clearly "different". How often do people "break the ice" with you by discussing what their favorite Chinese food is. Or how much they love sushi? Or talk about how they had a wonderful trip to China and ask if you miss being there? I can guarantee you that some people still stereotype and act differently based on what you look like or even your name. I get these and similar types of comments at least a few times a month. When I was in college, it was a few times a week. Slow progress, but still progress.
I'm with the OP. My father who came to the US in 1949 and worked for 34 years as an engineer for a major corporation and had to live through some abominable racism in the 50's through 70's taught me that as Chinese Americans, we have to appear to be 110% as good as everyone else to be treated the same. Although it happens less often, it is still 100% true today because you never know where and when it will hit. I now have biracial children and unfortunately, I will still need to teach them this lesson. I hope that they do not have to teach their children this. So, to the "another ignorant post" poster above, unfortunately, the world is not as color blind for those of us that are racial minorities as it is for those of you who are in the racial majority.
Anonymous
09/30/2011 10:51
Subject: Re:If your DC is African-Am. or Latino, do you put a lot of thought into how you dress your DC?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:people from Spain (Hispanics) don't look like Latinos.
Hm. Some do.
You should travel more.
Let me tell you a bit about the History I learned while traveling...
Latinos look a bit like the native Indians who were rapped by the Hispanics who invaded their land.
Hispanics look like the lower level of Europeans. A mix of Caucasian and Arabic if you know what I mean...
You sure didn't acquire any class while traveling. What a waste.
I save my low class behavior for anonymous environment... kind of the behavior you save for when the lights are off
Anonymous
09/30/2011 10:47
Subject: Re:If your DC is African-Am. or Latino, do you put a lot of thought into how you dress your DC?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:people from Spain (Hispanics) don't look like Latinos.
Hm. Some do.
You should travel more.
Let me tell you a bit about the History I learned while traveling...
Latinos look a bit like the native Indians who were rapped by the Hispanics who invaded their land.
Hispanics look like the lower level of Europeans. A mix of Caucasian and Arabic if you know what I mean...
You sure didn't acquire any class while traveling. What a waste.