Is this racism??

Question

it happen in my long vacation in Itali, i stayed at a Hotel. But there is something that make me fell unwelcome. It's when i went to that restaurant hotel to had dinner. That time i just used sandals, because i think it's just a non formal event, but when i going to the restaurant, there is a waitresses there that held me down because he said i'm using sandals, and he told me to change it to shoes. The problem is, he say that thing in front of all people. At that time, because i'm asian, i felt he is trying to make embaress at me infront of the people. What do you think?? it's common or he is just a racis person???

Answer 1

It wasn't racist, it was more classist. He was making fun of you for trying to wear sandals into their swanky restaurant.

Answer 2

First, you were probably singled you out because you were American, not Asian.

Since you were traveling in Italy, this was probably just a case of not knowing the local customs. Many places are more formal than the US, and I know I've caused my share of faux-pas while traveling, even when I thought I'd done my homework beforehand.

You might ding the waitress on not being as clear or polite as you might like, at the same time, she might look at it as if she were doing you a favor.

Now, if there were other people present who were dressed similarly to yourself, then that would be a different matter, but if the restaurant had a "no sandals" policy, the the waiter was just doing his job.

Answer 3

Learn dress codes!! Find out before hand what the restaurant dress codes are and choose the restaurant or not. Your attitude that you can wear sandals for everything that isn't a black tie is ludicrous. A street diner MIGHT be okay for sandals if you are in a casual, beachy location. A hotel dining room usually requires a more thoughtful wardrobe. The maitre' de did not embarass you....you embarassed yourself by not doing your homework. Nothing even remotely racist here and I'm surprised that a sandal issue would make you think so.

Answer 4

It isnt really common. It is kind of strange that the guy would only complain about the sandals. I would think as long your feet and sandals were clean and the sandals stayed on all would be ok. I don't know if the guy was a racist, maybe he was just on some kind of power trip. If it was me I may have pressed the issue with the hotel.

Answer 5

That's not racism. Many restaurants have a dress code that they expect all guests to follow. When someone isn't dressed according to their rules they tell them and don't let them in till they dress right. It's common and he would have done the same thing to an Italian walking in wearing sandals. The waiter couldn't help there were people around and I don't think there is a reason to feel embarrassed over this anyway.

Answer 6

Honestly - I don't think it was racism.

There are restaurants that require shoes, socks, and even jackets because they want to set a certain sense of decorum in their facility.

It was crummy of them to embarrass you in front of others, and maybe they didn't handle it with the grace it should have been handled with; but I really don't think it was racism whatsoever.

I don't really understand the need to hold you down (if that's really the right words to describe what was done) unless you showed signs of aggression when they told you you couldn't go in. I notice (with respect) that you have a little bit of trouble with English (which is understandable), but I wonder if a language barrier could have played a part too.

I suppose, too, the waiter is used to having to tell people they need shoes; so maybe he didn't think there was anything all that embarrassing about simply telling someone what the dress code is.

Answer 7

Usually when someone on staff tells you that you are not dressed properly to enter a restaurant it is because you are not dressed properly. Many places require suit and tie. Most places require shoes. Your "sandals" may not have met the shoe requirement.

While in China I was asked not to enter the hotel restauarnt wearing only a bathrobe and slippers. Do you think it was because I am white?

Answer 8

If you statyed at a very nice Hotel on your vacation then a dress code was probably enforced at the restaurant in the hotel. The restaurant probably required that you wear closed toe shoes.

Answer 9

Don't be so quick to play the race card. A lot of restaurants requirte certain things...like shirt and shoes, etc. A lot of places are black tie places. I'm white and I've been refused service before in a pizza place because I wasn't wearing shoes....I was like 8 and we were on our way to the pool and I never wore shoes when we were going swimming. My race had nothing to do with it. It was the restaurant's policy.

Answer 10

I doubt it was meant to hurt you. It is very likely a hard rule at most Italian restaturants (no shoes no service, sandals aren't considered "real" shoes in many places). Being in sandals is only slightly less casual than being bear foot. It's too bad you felt personally picked on.

Answer 11

If everybody else was wearing sandals and he told you to change, then maybe. If not, it's because you were wearing sandals and everyone else wasn't for the reason that it was indeed a formal gathering! It's not racist at all!!!