How do you handle being asked "What are you"?

Question

twice this school year, two people i've met have asked me "what are you?" within the first few questions they asked to get to know me. how would you handle this question? i am not tolerant when i hear this question because i think it's very disrespectful to dumb down a person's life, experiences, and existence to what ethnicity they are. inside, when asked this question, i can't help but scream "WHAT THE HELL DOES IT MATTER WHAT I AM????"... but at the same time, i was also talking to two people i felt i wanted to make a good impression on upon meeting (my new roommate and a co-worker i met my first day on the job)... how would you respond if someone you just met asks you this?

Answer 1

I don't see what the big deal is. I look one way but my surname suggests something else so I've been asked that question most of my life. Why must everyone think there is a closet racist behind every remark? Couldn't it just be that your roommate and coleague were interested in knowing more about you?

Answer 2

Well, you can respond "I am human" and look at them in the eye.
Right now there are so many different tags that people "brand" each other and treat them accordingly. It is true, it is direspectful, and it is dumb. But it is a custom right now. People ask this question and do not do it to make you mad, they actually want to know and think that your answer will give them a parameter of behaviour.
Like you respond, "i am goth" and then they know, or "I am gay" and then they treat you a certain way. Same with ethnicity.
I have been asked this question too. It is what society thinks is correct.
You do not have to, you are not obliged, to play along. Relax, smile and say, "why would you want to know? does it matter in any way" -because implying racism is even worse.
good luck!!

Answer 3

"What are you?" (Oh, when I hear this question....)

"Not interested in discussing this"

"Tactful and polite, you should try it"

"I'm allergic to labels, what are you?"

"Its interesting that you bring up race, is this something you usually fixate on?"

"Sorry, that's classified"

*cough* "racist!" *cough*
"Wow! You are only the thousandth person to ask! Is it just because theres a lack of diversity? Or maybe its just manners your missing out on?"

" Do you need this data because your going to be a racial profiler?"

"Pretty well done answering that question, thanks."

Grandma always said "Good christians" while giving Grandma's Death Stare to the offending question poser.

"I'm a boy/girl/hermaphrodite"
The best one came from my little brother. Some ignorant hick asked "What is he?" when we were in the supermarket and he yelled "I'm a boy!" (he was 5, lol )

I'm not usually so exasperated, but it gets really annoying and I don't think its right for people to ask such personal questions.

Answer 4

I find it is a good conversation starter.
I usually start with a question like "What a beautiful name. What is its history?" or I mention that I used to do genealogy so names and family histories fascinate me.

Since I know many people are sensitive to the "R" word, I usually use terms like "heritage", and "family history".

When asked similar questions, I make a point (without being too snooty) of including the same word in my reply to make it clear that I see it as interesting trivia, but still trivia.

Answer 5

You could say something like "I am the vice president of the United States." I'd probably say something like that.

Or you could give them a more honest answer. "I'm a 24 year old wife and mother." (change things around to fill in your own circumstances)

I would completely pretend not to understand that they were asking about your ethnicity. They'll get the hint eventually. When they go "No, no, I mean where are you from?" then you answer "I'm originally from Seattle, but I've been living in Memphis for the past few years."

Answer 6

just tell them your name , and your interests , like what sports you like to play , what movies you like. I think you might be looking into it a bit too much. your classmates are just making an attempt to make conversation with you , and get to know u lol , dont take it offensively thats is a some what odd thing to ask a person , but hey some people are very hyper and add ,and they want you in a nutshell because there is 6.5 billion others they are planning on meeting in this world before they die haha.

Answer 7

I have a friend who gets asked this a lot and she seems to really like it. ( Probably because she likes attention and people are usually nice when they ask it.) She will go into great detail to answer and people always seem genuinely interested. Personally I think it is a rude question.

Answer 8

I understand you perfectly, I have a different ethnicity from mainstream America and I have an accent, and two sentences into the conversation someone is sure to ask where r u from? or u have an accent! and I tell them - u have an accent too!!

Answer 9

well, what you are is a carbon base life form taking up space and making garbage. that what every human is.
if people are referring to you ethic background. they are probably so fascinated by the fact that you are different from them they lose all social graces. that is a back hand compliment. be proud of your ancestries. it is the fabric of what makes you unique. own it. honor it.!

Answer 10

What are you.........I don't know what that means.
Who are you... or what do you do , I can answer but what are you........?
It could mean nationality or profession or even sexual orientation...............or almost anything.
If anyone asked me such a question I think I would reply "What would you like me to be?"