Do you always get asked what race/ethnicity you are from every person you meet?

Question

I've grown so annoyed at people asking me what I am before my name. I've come up with a regular answer for them;
"I don't like answering that question because you only asked it so you could apply extra labels to me and stereotype me."
Of course they always claim that they won't stereotype me. But think about it. For what reason would my race matter if they weren't automatically going to apply labels to me?

If I said I was Hispanic they might assume I spoke Spanish, if I were Italian I might be a good cook. If I were mixed I would be a good catch for the black guys. If I were black I wouldn't be good enough for a white guy.

People apply standards to race, we all do. But I'm tired of people not realizing they do so. We associate certain characteristics with certain races without even knowing it. Whenever they claim they don't, I tell them I know they do because I'm a psy major and have studied the subject. But they still deny it.

Does this happen to any of you?

Oh yeah I remember an Indian lady asking me if I was Indian. She claimed I was beautiful and seemed to apply my beauty to being Indian. When I told her I wasn't she got angry and said, "What are you then?!"

Answer 1

No im white...its obvious

Answer 2

This doesn't happen to me, people just assume I'm white, which is fine because mostly I am :) One of my good friends though gets asked a lot. She has skin that would be dark on a white person and hair that is black and very curly. It bugs her that people always ask what she is. Honestly I don't know what she is. I know that her father was part Irish because of a tattoo she has. I have met her mom and and she really doesn't look like her daughter. Her father past away many years ago so I will never see him in more than a grainy photo. So I guess I will never know and that's okay. She is a beautiful girl and I don't care what 'race' she's a part of. Nobody asks her with me around what she is so I really can't stand up for her besides I'm pretty sure she can handle the question herself. I believe she responds with why do people always ask me that? And then she continues what she was doing :) It's not rude and they don't get an answer :) My husband is also dark but he's a big guy so people don't usually ask him :) He happens to be Italian and is very proud of it. Our daughter is adorable and has his dark skin so I imagine at some point she will be questioned as well. Maybe people really are just curious.

Answer 3

What??

Why do you assume that people are going to stereotype you?? Why do you assume that the only reason people would want to know your race is to apply labels?? Maybe they have an interest in cultures! Maybe they like your features and want to know what race of people produced such an attractive person! Maybe they find your look so interesting that they're just plain curious!

If I asked someone their race and they responded the way you said you regularly answer, I would feel offended. Why? Because that means that you just applied a negative trait to me for NO other reason than the assumption that YOU have about others. Not ME making assumptions and stereotyping YOU, like you said. You're doing EXACTLY what you think the other people are doing. How productive is that?

I'm multiracial (black, white, Native), and I love it when people ask me what race I am! I'm proud of my mix of races and cultures and I like to talk about it. I love cultures and languages and I love to learn about them. If I ask a person their race, I wanna know what their race is. Point blank, end of story.

I'm honestly curious on a couple issues that I hope you don't mind answering. First, why do you assume that all people will sterotype? And second, do you live in a racially homogeneous area?

Answer 4

Not from every person I meet, but quite a few and I answer most of them with my nationality. Some are curious, some are just plain old nosy and I agree with you some just are plain stupid tryin' to stereotype. I've been told I'm very beautiful, exotic and sensuous looking - (and I think my bod looks good too). It also depends on my mood, because a few times and a few weirdo's (if you know what I mean) had no business knowin' my business. I bet they ask you because your very pretty - but then again, its your prerogative if you want to answer them or not and mostly they should respect your decision and shut up with the questions if you don't want them knowin'. Smile!

Answer 5

Yes, people ask me this all the time. I am white (with very blond hair), with kinky, curly hair and speak fluent Spanish. My great-grandparents were from all over Europe. I don't take offense at it though. I like to explain my origin. I am proud of who my family is and appreciate my heritage. I figure that sometimes the only way for people to learn about other races and nationalities is to ask!

Answer 6

Yes, ppl ask me that all the time, it can get very annoying sometimes & sometimes I don't care, just depending on what type of mood i'm in. & most ppl who ask what my race is, they're the one's that haven't even known me for two mintues, that's when I get really annoyed. But I don't know if ppl ask to be noisy or they're asking because they want to learn about different nationalities. But i'm proud to say that i'm mostly Native American mix with German, Black, & Asian.

Answer 7

Yes, when I travelled to America, people thought of me as an Italian. When I was in Turkey, people asked me if I were Turkish; even Russian women did that.

Actually I'm a white Arab from Cairo, Egypt!

Answer 8

Asking you outright seems very ill-mannered, although in a way you might consider their interest flattering. What you should do to serve them right for being so rude is to make a bit of a game of it, tease them. "Well, my Mother's Mother was from Bosnia, but I believe her parents moved there from Azerbaijan to escape persecution, no-one seems to know whether her people were Jewish, Muslim or Orthodox, and my Mother's Father is Brazilian by citizenship but I believe his folks were minor members of the Portuguese aristocracy in the 19th century, so I could be a countess but I've never checked it out, ..."

Answer 9

Very seldom,... It deosn't really come up unless I am in a conversation with someone and we are perhaps getting to know one another,. then its somewhat relevant...

I mean,. sure,. it could be stereotyped,.. oooooooooor

it could be so people know what your culture is so they don't offend you possibly,...

ot maybe they are just curious

so anyways,.. what race are you again??? :D

Answer 10

I do have self belief that each thing occurs for a reason. each human being you meet, each journey you've, has a function in shaping your personality and who you're. each human being desires a confidante of the option sex (esp in marriage <--- so long because the lines are under no circumstances crossed). there's a lot that a depended on chum of the option sex can educate to you to make your courting consisting of your lover prosper very much. and typically you only want someone to envision with except your companion and that is okay too. back, the lines must be drawn and adhered to strictly. the actually concern is that as you open youself as a lot as this human being you ought to start up to have untimely emotions for them. Psychologists who learn this kind of stuff have shown that 2 those who go by using stuff at the same time (esp tragic events) have a tendency to type reliable love relationships (like what befell after 9/11 wit the suriving firemen and their fallen chum's different halves). each thing that occurs occurs for a reason. You assembly this human being is not any exception. it truly is my address issues. this is not any longer biblical, yet i have stumbled on it to be one hundred% authentic in hindsight. desire that helps.

Answer 11

Not at all.
In case of being asked, I think I will say I am one of the children of God like them; I don't care whether they agree with it or not.